The administration reached out only when pictures of their misery went viral on Friday.

BHOPAL: Ignored by the local panchayat and Sagar district administration, a tribal named Ramratan and his eight-year-old son Hanumat are living in a graveyard for weeks after their hut collapsed in heavy rain. The administration reached out only when pictures of their misery went viral on Friday.

The day Ramratan, a daily labourer, doesn't get work, he and his son fall asleep in the graveyard, hungry. "But I don't beg," he said.

After his house collapsed during a downpour, Ramratan says he sought the help of the panchayat, but in vain. Pavan Yadav, who gives him the work of loading fodder from his fields on to a tractor trolley, said that Ramratan had approached the sarpanch and panchatay secretary for help, but it was futile.

"I am not getting benefit of any of the government schemes run for the poor. I do not have any ration card for BPL families. I did apply for help but in vain," he told local media.

The days Yadav can't give him work, he walks to Sagar to look for a manual job. "I earn Rs 50 about four days a week," he said. On the bad days, he comes back to Kudari village, and father and son trudge to the graveyard to spend the night. "We will sleep hungry, but I will never beg," he said.

News of his plight trickled out and local mediapersons put his story and pictures on social media. The administration was jolted and on Friday allowed Ramratan to sleep in the panchayat building.

Additional CEO of the district panchayat, Rajesh Pateriya, said, "I have learnt about him. All the arrangements will be done for Ramratan in the next two days. This includes a place to live, and food." Action would be initiated against those who ignored his applications for government help, he said.

Chief executive officer of Sagar Janpad, Rahul Pandey, told reporters that Ramratan is being lodged in the panchayat bhavan for the time being and other arrangements are being made for him. Sources said Ramratan is being included on the list of beneficiaries for government schemes for the poor.



In Video: Bhopal: Dwelling collapses, tribal and his 8-year-old son living in a crematorium