Kolnara, April 7: Even today, government welfare schemes are not reaching many poor people. Although surveys are being conducted at the पंचायत level, several eligible beneficiaries are still being deprived of government benefits.
One such example is 60-year-old Jagiamma Mandangi from Badisala village under Bankili Gram Panchayat in Kolnara block. After the death of her husband Padada Mandangi in 2012, she has been living alone.
She has been physically disabled since birth, with impairment in her right leg, and walks with the support of a stick. Earlier, she and her husband survived by doing daily wage labor. However, due to old age and physical condition, she is now unable to work and depends solely on a government pension of just ₹1,000 per month. With this small amount, she somehow manages her basic needs like food and essentials.
She lives in an old thatched house. Whenever she falls ill, she depends on the help of villagers. Due to the lack of an Antyodaya card, she does not receive the entitled 35 kg of rice per month. As the Panchayat office is 2 km away, she cannot go herself to collect even the 5 kg ration and relies on villagers for help. If no one helps, she is forced to go hungry.
She has also not received a house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) or any other government housing scheme. Due to her disability, she faces difficulties in biometric authentication such as fingerprint and eye scanning.
Villagers have demanded that she be immediately included under the housing scheme and provided with a house. They have also urged the administration to issue her an Antyodaya card so she can receive 35 kg of rice per month. Additionally, they have requested doorstep delivery of pension and ration for persons with disabilities.
It remains to be seen when the administration will extend help to this poor and destitute elderly woman.
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