Assam: Differently-abled old woman deprived of all Govt benefits yearns for 'Achche Din'

BONGAIGAON: A differently-abled old woman from Assam's Bongaigaon district has been thrust into the limelight after it came to light that she is yet to receive Government benefits. The old woman of around 70, who uses a single can to move around, is the picture of poverty in Assam, and the fact that the Government has not taken any measures to help a senior citizen living in such abject poverty shows that "achche din" (good days) are yet to arrive for a sizeable number of the populace.

The decrepit old woman, Posoki Bala Roy, dwells in a dilapidated hut and all she has for company are animals -- dogs, cats, roosters. Ever since her parents passed away, the differently-abled woman has been spending her days in loneliness.

Stricken by poverty, she walks around in a loincloth, shivering in the winter cold. "I do not wear woolens because I do not have money to purchase them," she told media persons.

Roy, who is around 70 years old, has been living in abject poverty, earning her the pity of locals. However, it seems like there is no end to her sufferings -- as the Government is yet to take steps to help her out.

To top it all off, she has also found herself the object of neglect of ostracism due to her differently-abled nature.

Scrutiny of her dwelling will reveal that the old woman has dug up a ditch in her compound, which serves as her water supply. She has not even received a water pump, and continues consuming unhygienic water from the ditch.

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Due to her inability to purchase kerosene, the old woman spends her nights in the dark. With the onset of winter, she shivers alone -- as she is unable to buy warmer clothes.

A conversation has revealed that she has been so far deprived of the BJP-led Government's developmental schemes such as old-age pensions, BPL current, PMAY house, the works.

Many years ago, she had been assigned a house under the Indira Awas, butthe contractor did not complete it.

A few youths of Bongaigaon town, seeing the plight of the old lady, went to enquire about her well-being. Local Congrss leader Birkumar Adhikary also visited the woman, and provided her with warn clothes as a gesture of good will.

Locals have now urged the district administration as well as Sarbananda Sonowal-led BJP Government to do the needful to ease the sufferings of this Assam daughter.

"It is now their turn to ensure that Roy sees better days in the future," pointed out Adhikary.

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