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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | ‘Urban poor unaware of welfare schemes’

‘Urban poor unaware of welfare schemes’

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published Published on Oct 25, 2012   modified Modified on Oct 25, 2012
-The Hindu

This was discovered during an awareness drive in two Jaipur slums recently

Jaipur: The daily struggle of slum dwellers for getting basic amenities and the glaring deficiency in the reach of the much-touted urban poverty alleviation schemes as well as other programmes for welfare of widows, disabled people and destitute children were revealed during an awareness drive launched by two voluntary public service institutions in slum colonies here this week.

The campaign, as part of which activists representing the two institutions went to the slums in different parts of the city to interact with the residents, also enabled slum dwellers to raise their voice against the lack of civic amenities and highlight the absence of welfare measures about which the Jaipur Municipal Corporation and the government have been making frequent claims.

Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) programme officer Tripti Sharma and Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) members Deepmala Malhotra and Gopal Ram Verma interacted with the people residing at J. P. Colony in Vidyadhar Nagar zone and Baiji Ki Kothi slum in Jhalana Doongari area earlier this week. One of the objectives was to apprise the slum dwellers of official schemes for housing, infrastructure development and social welfare.

Activists visiting J. P. Colony were shocked to learn that none of the 450-household strong locality had any knowledge about the State government’s schemes. Ms. Sharma said there was total lack of awareness about schemes which can benefit the poor, indicating that schemes were being implemented in a “superficial manner”.

Despite a major sewage drain passing along the locality, J. P. Colony has been deprived of basic hygiene. This has prompted the residents to come together and make arrangements for basic amenities on their own. They pooled money to lay temporary water pipes running over the road surface and even connected a sewage line with the main open drain flowing along the slum.

Local resident Rashid Khan said the on-surface water pipes were a mess and made it difficult for children and the elderly to walk in the dark. The slum locality, situated on a slope, is prone to such accidents with people falling over and injuring themselves. Naina Devi narrated the shortcomings of privately-laid sewage pipes, saying they were too small and choked frequently.

Another resident Shahida questioned the need of the government if slum dwellers had to arrange for the bare minimum infrastructure themselves. Daily wage earner Shaukin (35), suffering from polio, obtained a disability card for himself to claim disability pension and travel for free in State buses. Despite the documents, he is denied access to any of the welfare schemes for disabled people. Mitthu Lal Naik, also suffering from polio, had the similar story to tell.

Abandoned by her father, Renuka (10) lives with her widow grandmother who herself is struggling to earn a livelihood. She works as domestic help to survive. Similarly, Fardeen and Sareen are destitutes who need urgent support.

Ms. Sharma said such children and the families with whom they live could avail of the Palanhaar Yojana, in which a fixed monthly amount as well as annual assistance is paid to the family. At an age they should be going to school and enjoying their childhood, adverse circumstances have forced these children to work, she added. Besides, 19 widows and several elderly persons residing in the slum find it extremely difficult to make ends meet. A major difference could be made to their standard of living with the help of widow and old age pensions.

During the interaction with the residents of Baiji Ki Kothi slum, over 30 women came together to protest against the humiliation they face while trying to get their basic rights. The women said government officers were not willing to hear their grievances or resolve issues confronting them.

The Hindu, 22 October, 2012, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/urban-poor-unaware-of-welfare-schemes/article4020725.ece


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