Akhilesh Bhuiyan (17) may have fallen into the newly named and more dignified category — Divyang — but the system in place has stripped him out of the benefits meant for the likes of him.
Fault of the destitute of Nimia Tand village of Aru panchayat falling under sleepy Hunterganj block in Chatra district is just that the hi-tech gadgets pressed into service by the Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) are unable to read biometric data of Akhilesh due his acute disability.
The family belonging to the poorest in the scheduled caste category, Bhuiyan, is surviving on about 10 kattha of land that produced only when the rain God wants. Akhilesh’s father Balesar Bhuiyan is to venture out in search of daily works to meet the two ends.
“In this situation disability pension to his son who barely crawls was precious for them. But since the pension scheme has been linked to Aadhaar numbers Akhilesh Bhuiyan’s name has been removed from the list of beneficiaries. For over a year from now his disability pension is being discontinued,” said Rana Yogendra Pratap Singh, Panchayat Sevak of Aru.
It is not that the desperate family did not try to get Akhilesh register with UIDAI.
“Every time we go to the Aadhaar enrolment center the operator says that my son’s finger prints cannot be scanned by the machines. Akhilesh is unable to move his hands, legs or any other organ of his body. Bahut kosish kiye lekin uska Aadhaar nahi bana (We tried our best but his Aadhar could not be made),” decries father Balesar.
Another attempt by local representatives and the Panchayat Sevak failed recently when the family tendered applications starting from the BDO to the DC.
“We have not left any effort from our side. But all of them are saying that as per the new guidelines anyone not having Aadhaar number could not be given pension of any kind. What can the poor Dalit family do when the biometrics of the boy is not being scannedIJ What is the fault theirs into all this,” asks former Mukhia Umesh Chandra Pandey putting the very purpose behind linking disability pension to Aadhaar with no scope to consider special cases like this.
When contacted district administration was unsure about what to do in this issue. “The matter has come to my knowledge as the family had approached my office with application. We are looking into it and have asked the Hunterganj BDO to verify the case. If there is any provision for such cases under the existing law and UIDAI system we would ensure this can help the Divyang boy,” Chatra DC Sandeep Singh said.
The assurance remain, ordeal of Akhilesh Bhuiyan is likely to continue playing a handicap in living his life in a dignified way with self-respect.
“He is handicapped by birth and we fear he would not remain alive for long either. What pains more that he is being pushed further into poverty due to no fault his,” adds Umesh Chandra Pandey.