Vidyawati Sharma, a 65-year-old resident of Sandila village in Amethi district, is currently facing immense hardship after losing the roof over her head. While the government operates the Chief Minister Gramin Awas Yojana to ensure that poor families have secure roofs and do not face housing difficulties, many vulnerable individuals still struggle to access these benefits. Vidyawati lost her husband about 15 years ago, and after her sons separated from her, she has been living entirely on her own.
Despite her difficult circumstances, Vidyawati has been left out of the rural housing scheme. She has approached everyone from the local village head to the District Magistrate multiple times with her grievances, but no official has stepped forward to inspect her plight. The neglect culminated recently when the only remaining room of her long-dilapidated two-room dwelling collapsed due to heavy rainfall. Fortunately, Vidyawati was not inside the room at the time of the collapse, averting a major tragedy, yet she continues to run from pillar to post without securing a sanctioned house.
Ground-level interactions with Vidyawati revealed that she continues to manage her daily existence in the remains of the damaged structure. Expressing her helplessness, she noted that life must go on somehow. When she asks the village head for a housing allotment, she is told that since her son received a house, she is not eligible and should live with him. When asked about living in such a hazardous structure, she remarked that she has no other choice and must manage however she can.
The elderly woman mentioned that Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya had previously spoken to her and assured her that a house would be arranged. Reflecting on this, she stated that getting a home would allow her to live in better conditions, but if not, she will simply continue to get by as she has been. Meanwhile, Block Development Officer Shri Prakash Pandey stated over the phone that Vidyawati has not been intentionally kept away from the scheme, attributing the delay to a lack of awareness rather than deliberate exclusion.
According to the Block Development Officer, Vidyawati missed out earlier due to a lack of proper information. He confirmed that directives have now been received from the administration and registration procedures are actively underway. He assured that she will soon receive the benefits of the housing scheme and will not face any further difficulties.
