In the wake of Corona virus outbreak, the State Government has been distributing PDS rations to the beneficiaries for three months in advance under NFSA (National Food Security Act) and State Food Security Scheme, but to the sorry plight of an AIDS-affected widow, she was denied the sops following her name was deleted from the beneficiaries list for being an Anganwadi Helper.
According to the 44-year-old HIV infected woman, Snehalata (name changed) from remote Laxminarayanpur village under Derabish block, she got the infection from her husband who died of the disease in 2002. She decided to work and earn like any other woman of her age and joined as a helper in local Anganwadi Centre.
Besides, she receives Madhu Babu Pension per month earmarked for AIDS patients. Her salary and pension provides her support to take care of herself and her 19-year-old son.
Even the district administration earlier sanctioned her a pucca house under IAY scheme along with enrolling her name in the State Food Security scheme. She used to collect PDS rations every month. Even, last month, she too collected her quota.
But to her surprise, while the three months ration was provided to other beneficiaries in the wake of COVID-19, she was denied the same.
As the widow woman is an Anganwadi helper and she is getting salary from government treasury under HRMS(Human Resources Management system) site, so she became ineligible beneficiary from this month, said BDO Gopabandhu Bhosagar.
Civil Supplies Officer (CSO) of Kendrapada Rajnikant Dash stated that he would look into the matter.