Jharsuguda man calls Swachh toilet his home for a year
JHARSUGUDA: A 50-year-old man, Jogindra Nikhunti, a resident of Pujaripali village under Bhikampali gram panchayat of Lakhanpur block in Jharsuguda district, has been living in a toilet block for the past one year since his kuccha house was damaged in rain.
The daily-wage labourer has been residing in the toilet block constructed under the Centre’s flagship programme Swachh Bharat Mission.
“My mud house was completely damaged by rain one year ago, and since then I have been living in the toilet block. I stay in one room with all my belongings. I find it difficult to fit inside the room but still manage to sleep since I have no other place to live in,” he said. “Despite repeated pleas, no one has provided me any help. Additionally, I don’t get any ration from the government. On top of all this, I have received an electricity bill of Rs 9,000, in spite of not using any electricity,” he said.
“I have paid a visit to Jogindra. He had come to the panchayat office several times with his request. During the 2011 Census, he had been staying at some other place due to some work. So his name was not included in the census list, for which he has been unable to get a house. We cannot provide him with a house under the Biju Pucca Ghar immediately. However, inclusion of names is going on now and we have already given his name for inclusion on the beneficiary list,” said Krishna Kalo, sarpanch, Bhikampali.
“He has a ration card but he has not linked it to his Aadhaar card, which is why he is not being provided ration. I don’t know whether he has made the Aadhaar card or not. If he has, we can immediately link this with his ration card and provide him ration,” added Kalo.