Labour class family denied basic amenities

Vittal: The government is patting its own back by saying that it has provided all facilities to the poor t their door steps. It has announced the state to be hut-free and is giving more attention towards cleanliness. But, this family at Manila village in Bantwal taluk has failed to receive any government facility and remain in a critical situation. This is the proof to show that the government’s facilities have not reached to the eligible beneficiaries.

When witnessing the hut of Narayana Naik and Lalita couple at Nekkare in Manila village, it becomes clear that the officials and the representatives of the people are oblivious to the people’s needs. The walls are of mud and the roof is only covered by a tarpaulin sheet. The bathroom does not have a roof and they do not have a toilet. In 2005, he received 20 cents of land through Akrama-Sakrama scheme but the boundaries were not marked.

There are numerous government facilities available for this family which belongs to the schedule tribes community. But, Narayana Naik has no information about this. It is probably because he is an illiterate. They have an identity card. No Aadhaar card. No caste certificate. His wife simply has no card. This family possessed a ration card till 2008. Since it was not renewed, it has become inactive. They are not getting any food that can be availed through the ration card. They do not even have kerosene.

They have no well or lake for drinking water and are completely dependent on their neighbor’s well. There is no road to their house. The main road is at a distance of 150 meters from this house. There is a functional street lamp there. It light weakly lights their house and if there is a power cut, the only source of light is also lost.  It is difficult to provide electric connection to a house with a sheet a tarpaulin acting as the roof. There is a need for minds to get together and bring light into this house which has never witnessed it.

Narayana Naik is 45 years old and is a day wage laborer. This couple does not have children. They are living their lives in this ramshackle hut. Nobody should face a life like this. Revenue department and all the departments of the government should provide their facilities at the door steps of the poor people.  A few officials and representatives of the people frequently speak about this in their speeches. But this is proof that it has never reached the needy.  

Legal barriers

Housing board says that a house can be provided to the owner. But, according to the Panchayat Raj rule, the house must be given to the woman. There is also a rule that if the house is given to the man by outside the limits of the previous rule, legal action will be taken against panchayat development officer. There is also opportunity, if the husband provides ‘Dana Patra’ to his wife on the land that is in his name, the house will be granted. But the 20 cents of land on Narayana Naik name was granted to Akrama-Sakram schemem and hence cannot be converted to someone eles’s name.

It has been attempted

“According to Panchayat Raj rules, the house is provided in the name of the woman. The registration certificate should be in the name of Narayana Naik’s wife, caste certificate is required. They do not posses any of these. Though the RC is in the name of her husband, the house can be provided only to a senior citizen, disabled person or a widower. Yet, attempts have been made to give them a few facilities. I have put an application for rain damage relief. Grant has been set aside for house repair under the 14^th finance for SC/ST. But that won’t be enough to construct their house,” explained Rajesh Kumar, Manila G.P. President.