Even as the Government claims to have introduced welfare schemes for people from birth to death, a wretched life being led by 70-year-old Subhakar Dash (70) and his wife Mandodari of lachhipur village in Sonepur block has worried many.
To make matters worse, Subhakar is unable to walk properly. Despite having fractured femur, he is not able to afford the cost of the treatment of any disease and crawls his way to nearby areas where he begs to eke out a living. For some days, the couple is forced to go to bed empty stomach when people around them refuse to be generous.
Subhakar does not remember how many times he has crawled all the way to Sonepur block office for old-age pension. Though he has met almost all the block officials, assurance is all that he has received so far. But all his efforts have been in vain. “I have even begged PRI members for pension, but to no avail,” lamented Sunhankar in a choked voice.
When contacted, Sonepur BDO Aniruddha Padhan said he was unaware of the plight of the Dash couple and promised to provide pension to them at the earliest.
Denial of old-age pension to eligible beneficiaries is not new in Subarnapur, which have grabbed headlines many times. Irregularities as so much that dead and young are receiving the pension.
In case of Dash couple, officers’ assurances have remained on pen and paper only.
locals demanded that the administration take notice of their plight and provide them an Indira Awas and old-age pension at the earliest.