DERGAON, June 29 - At a time when the government has introduced many schemes for the poor, an elderly woman in Golaghat district is crying for relief after her home was destroyed in a storm.
Subhati Sahu, a widow in Napam village under Numaligarh Panka Gaon Panchayat, 40 km from Dergaon town, has been staying in a dilapidated house for several years.
The house in which she was living � an old bamboo and wooden structure � was ruined, when part of it was blown away in a storm in May. Some villagers repaired the house temporarily, but it was again damaged in a storm last week, due to which the lonely woman has had to stay outside the shed, waiting for it to fall.
Though there is a provision of ex-gratia relief up to Rs 95,400 from the Disaster Management department, the woman has allegedly never received a single penny. Till now, no one from any government department has come to take a look at her house.
On being contacted, the Marangi Revenue Circle Officer Banashree Malakar said the circle office was not connected with the issue, as the office prepares list of beneficiaries only. �The whole matter is under the purview of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Golaghat,� Malakar said.
Regarding non-receipt of any facility from the Gaon Panchayat, Arun Thengal, the gaonburah (village headman) of No.1 Panka grant revenue village said the woman has not received any grant, but was an eligible beneficiary to get aid under government schemes like PMAY.
Though efforts were made to contact officials of the Panka Gaon Panchayat for their comments, they could not be contacted.
