We face a number of problems in our day-to-day life, but no one listens to us. The Government officials hardly take any interest in our complaints,” expressed a few women of Boden block to mediapersons held at Boden of Nuapada district on Tuesday.
Problems of these women range from lack of drinking water, health, nutrition services to unemployment and delay in wage payment under NREGS.
Padma Dal (35), after the death of her husband in snakebite, is struggling hard to manage her three children as a daily wager. “It is difficult to manage the family without assured employment,” she said. She was also aggrieved that she was not issued a ration card under the National Food Security Act.
“Ration card has not been issued to hundreds of women of our Panchayat,” said a few women of Sunapur Panchayat. “In Jubrajpur, at least 35 deserving persons have been excluded and in Darlipada, 12 persons have been deprived of the card. The selection is totally wrong,” revealed the women. The women of Darlipada village also complained that seven deserving women of their village were not included in the old age pension scheme.
Tuni and Subanti are the widows of Tikeram Majhi of Temri village of Boden panchayat who died in a brick kiln near Tirupati. “He was ill for a few days and hospitalised, but later died,” said Subanti who was with her in the kiln. She could not collect the death certificate from the hospital. “I am not able to apply for the ration card and widow pension as I cannot produce the death proof,” she added.
The media-distressed women interaction meet was organised by the NGO Chale Chalo. District Press Club president Ajit Panda, secretary Tapan Ranjan Dash, Parameswar Barik and Kunal Behera attended.
Rajkumar Meher, Sonalin Panda, Saraswati Panda, Renuka Hans, Dibyakanti Majhi and Chandrakanti Jagat of Chale Chalo were present.