vinder Sood
Palampur, September 26
Aman Kumar (53), a hearing and speech impaired resident of Gummer village of Kangra district, has been moving from pillar to post for the past 10 years to get a house sanctioned under the Central housing scheme, but has failed to move the authorities.
Aman’s wife Veena Devi and son Ayush Kumar, have also the same disability.
After travelling for about one-and-a-half hours from Palampur, the reporter reached the village near Jwalamukhi where the family resides in a small mud house. The family is living in fear that the roof of the house could come down any time due to heavy rain.
Anik, another son of Aman, has told The Tribune that his father, mother and brother can neither speak, nor listen. They have no source of income except disability pension of Rs 1,500 per month. Anik is also unemployed. If they get a house under the scheme, it will be the biggest favour for them.
He has said the family is also eligible for financial assistance from the government. They approached the panchayat and local authorities, but in vain. However, their names have been included in the BPL list by the panchayat and get subsidised ration.
Shimla Devi, panchayat pardhan, Gummer, said she was well-versed with the miserable condition of the family and making efforts to get them a house sanctioned under the scheme. Aman’s name had been forwarded to the government for the allotment of house and she hoped he would get it soon.
A senior officer of the HP State Rural Development Department said because of some land dispute, money for constructing a house could not be sanctioned to him. Aman had been asked by the Block Development Officer concerned to get the title of the land cleared. The panchayat pradhan had also been requested to collaborate with the local revenue authorities and settle their dispute.
Aman said he had requested the local revenue authorities and panchayat to help him in settling the land dispute as he was unable to approach the officials concerned.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service
