District collector sanctions Rs 2 lakh, plot of land on lease for family among other benefits
A struggling family in Barmer, Rajasthan has succeeded in catching the attention of the district administration and receiving its due ration and other benefits following a Down To Earth report published on December 16, 2022.
The 70-year-old Nojidevi has been caring for her mentally-ill daughter and cancer-patient son-in-law for the past few years.
Read more: Dying for ration: Denied full benefits, 62-year-old widow eats a meal a day to survive
The family falling under the below poverty line (BPL) category ration card under the state government’s Public Distribution System (PDS) had been struggling to access the full benefits from the government.
The three members relied on 40 kilogrammes of food grains received by Nojidevi and shared among them. Their combined monthly income was Rs 8,000 through pension and by selling milk.
Their dilapidated house also told their sorry tale of the family struggling to make ends meet. The septuagenarian had told the reporter about her dreams of saving enough money to build a new cowshed for her cattle.
However, the state government has taken cognisance of their conditions and offered a series of help. Officials visited the family on December 16 and 17, 2022.
Nojidevi is receiving a pension of Rs 1,000 and 35 kilogrammes of wheat, Surendra Purohit, additional district magistrate, Barmer, told DTE.
Read more: Dying for ration: Biometric glitches in Rajasthan villages keep the poor hungry
“We have registered her under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), a Union government flagship programme to provide housing for the economically weaker sections,” he said.
Nojidevi is eligible for employment and is also being linked to Indira Gandhi Shehri Rojgar Yojana, said Purohit.
The state government programme aims to employ the poor living in urban areas. “We will ensure she gets an easy job considering her age,” he added.
The district administration has also decided to give the family a plot of land on lease worth Rs 1 lakh on a renewable basis to improve their financial condition, he further said.
Nojidevi’s 45-year-old son-in-law Jodharam and 40-year-old mentally ill daughter Mangidevi who are not linked to the government’s PDS scheme, will start receiving their share of food supplies within a week, he assured. “Due processes have been initiated in this regard,” the officer said.
The district collector has also sanctioned a sum of Rs 2 lakh from his funds. “The money will be spent to build a cattle shed for Nojidevi. The remaining funds will be used to build a water tank for the family,” Purohit said.
Read more: Dying for ration: These Barmer widows and orphans are being turned away from PDS shops
Jodharam has also requested a toilet for the family. “We will ensure to fulfil the demand through a relevant government scheme to provide with the basic facility,” Purohit stated.
For medical expenses of cancer treatment for Jodharam, the Chiranjeevi health scheme will be free and no expense would be charged, the official added.
The family appreciates the note taken by the government but hopes the promises are delivered in reality, Jodharam said.
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Nojidevi (centre), her daughter and son-in-law had been struggling to access their full due benefits from the government. Photo: Himanshu Nitnaware.png)
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