Bhawanipatna: The old age pension scheme has turned into a nightmare for 65-year-old Gunanidhi Sahu in Kalahandi district.
A resident of Dukermal village, around 70 km from Bhawanipatna, Gunannidhi has been bedridden for the past two years. He along with his wife, Urmila Sahu, and daughter Kasturi are forced into penury because he is yet to receive the benefits of the government’s pension scheme.
According to locals, Gunannidhi used to work as a daily labourer and earned just enough to take care of his family.
However, he suddenly fell ill two years ago and taken to the community health centre (CHC) at Karlamunda. Even after medication at the CHC, Gunannidhi could not stand on his own and has been confined to a cot ever since.
Locals said Gunannidhi is suffering from paralysis, but the real disease could have been diagnosed better if he was taken to a hospital in a city. Unfortunately, his family could not afford the treatment.
Left with no income, his wife and daughter took to working as domestic maids in the homes of their neighbours. The duo barely earns Rs 1,000 per month which is not enough for survival. “We get 35 kg of rice under the government’s Antodaya scheme. That is a saving grace. But with my paltry earnings, I can’t bear the cost of my husband’s treatment in a city hospital,” the wife said.
A local journalist, Kunja Sahu, said Gunanidhi had applied for the old age pension but did not get it. “Finally, I approached the Karlamunda BDO to provide him the pension, but he is yet to receive the benefit of the government scheme,” Sahu said.
He added that villagers had raised Rs 3,000 for Gunanidhi’s treatment, but it was insufficient.
On his part, Gunanidhi is more concerned for his daughter’s future. “Due to my utter penury, I am always worried about my daughter. Had she got married somewhere, I could have died peacefully,” he said with teary eyes.
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