Govindapalli: While dozens of schemes are there for poor and helpless people in the state, a 70-year-old woman is yet to benefit from those.
Samari Hantal, widow of Adia Hantal, who hails from Pujariguda village under Khairaput block doesn’t have an Aadhaar card or a voter ID. She doesn’t get even old age or widow pension.
Since she doesn’t have money to buy food, she collects edible forest produce and eats it after roasting on fire as she cannot buy utensils. Sometimes, villagers give her some food. In winter, she is found sitting near fire for hours as she doesn’t have winter wear. According to the villagers, Samari cannot see and hear properly. She can hardly walk.
The villagers have been demanding provision of old age pension for the destitute, 35-kg rice under Antyodaya scheme, a house and electricity. Some villagers said Samari could live a better life if a medical check-up is done.
Local Block Development Officer Biswajit Chandra Burman said the panchayat executive officer would be sent to the village and government welfare schemes would be provided to her.