Bhubaneswar: Acting upon a report published in Orissa POST, the government has reached out to a destitute woman – Sasmita Pradhan (30) – and her kids of Sanagokhani village in Iswarpur panchayat in Kendrapara district and ensured her entitlements.
The only home-grown English daily has published a report titled ‘Denied benefit of schemes, woman struggles to feed family’ in its June 25 edition this year. Taking a note of this report, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi has asked the Kendrapara district Collector to immediately reach out to the woman and provide all assistances and entitlements she is eligible to avail.
According to an official of Chief Secretary’s office, she has been included in the priority list of National Food Security Act (NFSA) and a pucca house has been ordered under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojna (BPGY). Very soon a permanent ration card will be issued to her. Till that time, ration is being provided to her, the official said.
As she does not belong to SC/ST category, the local administration has been asked to ensure enrolment of Sasmita’s children in a local school.
Notably, Sasmita alias Pinky, a mother of four girls, of Sanagokhani village in Rajnagar block of Kendrapara was under severe financial stress. Five years ago, her husband deserted her and their children and left the village. Since then, the woman has been struggling to feed her family. Sasmita used to support the family by doing menial jobs. When she failed to get any work, she used to beg.
Her four daughters had never been to school as she found it difficult to provide clothes to them.
OP impact: Govt reaches out to destitute woman
