A poor boy of Sundargarh who is physically challenged has been running from pillar to post to get handicap pension and rice quota.
Recently, he had been to Sundargarh Collectorate grievance cell, but he had to return empty-handed as the Sundargarh Collector was not available on that day but he and his villagers who accompanied him could meet Sundargarh Tehsildar and ADSWO, Sundargarh.
Identified as Som Say (19), the physically challenged boy resides in Dahijira village under Kutra block of Sundargarh. Som had lost his parents when a child. Som was physically challenged since his birth and he is unable to walk. Som’s uncle Udhav took care of Som and his younger brother after the children became orphans. But Udhav who works as a daily wage labour found it very hard to run all the expenses, including education of the children.
Consequently, Som had to discontinue his education after completing seventh class. His younger brother Deep had also to drop out because of financial hardship. Som thereafter has been running from Panchayat to the block office for getting physically challenged pension.
The villagers of Dahijira recently had hired a vehicle and had taken Som to Sundargarh to meet the Collector.
According to sources, Sundargarh Tehsildar assured him that she would look into the matter and directed the Additional District Social Welfare Officer (ADSWO), Sundargarh for necessary action.
After verification of his disability certificate, the ADSWO could come to know that his disability certificate validity period had expired.
“It is really disappointing that he has not yet got physically challenged pension and his rice quota despite the fact that he had disability certificate,” said ADSWO HK Dehury, assuring, “I am looking into his case and I will see that he gets his pension and rice quota at the earliest.”