A poverty struck mother and her daughter are now battling with their lives due to long days of starvation despite the fact that their names have been enrolled in the poverty alleviation schemes like Antodaya as their quota of PDS was allegedly diverted to other beneficiaries by a local dealer.
According to sources, octogenarian Akhuji Behera and her 40-year-old semi mentally deranged daughter Agani Behera of Balarampur village under Iswarpur panchayat in Rajnagar have been starving for last few days and are now in critical condition because of lack of food.
The octogenarian Akhuji’s spouse and three sons were missing for last several years. While the district administration has enlisted Akhuji in BPl list, her daughter has been enrolled in Antodaya Yojana. But, they did not possess their cards which are now under the possession of the dealers.
Since long, neither the mother nor her daughter has gone to the dealer to get their PDS items. But as per Government records, they have been lifting their quota of rice every month. Not only this, Rs 20,000 cheque under IAY is also cited on records to have been disbursed to the old lady.
Meanwhile, on Monday night, the Rajnagar Block administration rescued the duo and admitted them at Rajnagar CHC.
According to Rajanagar BDO Rajendra Narayan Pradhan, the duo has been suffering from malnutrition diseases. When contacted, District Collector Niranjan Pradhan informed that a probe has been started into the scam.