Tumudibandh: Kulunga Majhi and Radamadu Majhi, a Kutia couple of Bargaon under Jhiripani panchayat in this block of Kandhamal district have been denied their old-age pension on the ground they do not have Aadhaar cards. This is so even as they live in abject poverty.

“We had been getting Rs 600 as old-age pension. Five months ago, the officer distributing pension asked us to come with our aadhaar card to get the money,” said the frail couple, adding though they went through the designated centre, after covering a distance of 4km, they were yet to get the card. Non receipt of aadhaar card has been proving to be the worst plight in their lives.

As a result, this poor couple, who lost their ailing and physically challenged son two years ago, have been deprived of any benefit from any social or food security scheme. They are not fortunate enough like others to get a house under the state or central government scheme like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna or the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojna though they are BPL card-holders. They continue taking shelter under the roof of others, as tenants, after their lone possession, a thatched hut, came down due to lack of maintenance a couple of years ago.

They have also stopped receiving their quota of BPL rice. “We were receiving 25kg of rice on our BPL card. That has been stopped as we don’t have ration card. Now we are forced to beg for food,” sobbed Kulunga.

The government has been trying to bring the Kutia community into the social mainstream. Scheme after scheme is being launched. But they all remain meaningless for some like Kulunga and Radamadu.

When contacted, Basant Kumar Sethy, block development officer, Tumudibandha, said non-possession of Aadhaar card should not come in the way of the couple or anybody else getting old-age pension. After holding an inquiry to find out why the old-age pension has been denied to the couple, they would be provided with pension, ration card and other assistance, he said. PNN