Poverty and Govt apathy-a lethal cocktail
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 23 2010: Even as hundreds of crores of rupees were sanctioned under the noble scheme of Indira Awaz Yojana (IAY) to build/repair houses of BPL families who are either homeless or whose houses are in shabby conditions, hundreds of such families have been conspicuously left out of the scheme and many of them are reeling under the harsh and shameful reality of abject poverty.

Literally, these families are living at the mercy of nature.

Children of these families who carry the only hopes of their parents are also suffering untold miseries and they often come across humiliating circumstances, driving them to the edge of insanity.

Aid distributed and inset the deceased child

There are cases when young children of these families passed away unable to withstand the forces of nature as they were left without any form of protection.

Five year old Tongbram Bidyashore who died on April 20 when their bamboo house collapsed over him at the impact of a storm is a shocking illustration of the harsh realities many of these impoverished families are undergoing.

Most probably, Bidyashore did not understand that their house under which he used to play, read and tickle his parents was in a very pathetic condition.

The house was made of thatched roofs and supported by small bamboos as pillars.

The wall was made of mud and straw mixture.

Bidyashore's parents knew their house could crumble at the slightest impact but they were helpless.

They had no money to spare apart from meeting the daily requirement of a square meal.

Perhaps, they paid the price of their abject poverty with the life of their small darling.

Padmashree Nabakishore while empathising the woes of the bereaved parents, donated Rs 10,000 in cash, two bags of rice of 50 Kgs each and other edible items.

Nabakishore visited Tongbram Sanayaima (27) and Tongbram Ibemcha (26) at their Keirenphabi Maning Leikai home today along with media persons.

The dejected condition of the family was quite visible.

Since the fateful day, the kid's tender life was cut short, Ibemcha has not yet returned to her normal self.

Ibemcha who also sustained injuries in the house collapse was discharged from RIMS only today.

She has been undergoing treatment in RIMS since April 20 .

Seeing the disturbed mental state of Ibemcha, the media persons did not talk to her.

Till yesterday, Ibemcha did not know that her son had died.

She was living in a world of her own thinking that her son is still alive.

Doctors carefully convinced her about the death of her son only today before she was discharged from RIMS.

She is still barred from approaching the collapsed house.

Bidyashore, Sanayaima, Ibemcha who is seven months pregnant, Sanayaima's sister-in-law Heiyai and her (Heiyai's) four year old son Indrakumar were preparing to have their morning meal when a strong gale hit their unworthy house at about 9.30 am of April 20 .

In the next moment, the house collapsed over them.

Somehow, Sanayaima managed to pull himself out of the wreckage and ran for help in the neighbourhood.

But when people removed the wreckages, Bidyashore was found dead while her mother was found unconscious.

Heiyai and Indrakumar survived the incident with minor injuries.

Bidyashore started schooling this year itself at Children Ethel Academy which was also damaged substantially by the same windstorm that claim the live of the young student.

With a voice choked with emotion and face reflecting a strong feeling of remorse, Bidyashore's grand-father Kumar said, "I knew the house had dilapidated to the last stage but I was helpless.

I was telling my children to pass only this season under the same house".

Disclosing their extreme poverty, Kumar asked, "Are we children of lesser-gods" ? .

Sanayaima used to earn the livelihood of his family doing all kinds of odd jobs.

They do not any agricultural field nor do they have regular assess to BPL/APL rice, sugar and kerosene provided through PDS at subsidised rates.

Even though it has been laid down that each family holding BPL card should get 35 Kgs of rice at Rs 9 per Kg, Sanayaima's family has no assess to such facility.

Worn down by old age and emotion, Kumar recalled that her grand-son was very fond of reading.

"He used to store coins in a piggybank made out of a hole on the bamboo pillar.

When the bamboo broke down at the impact of the storm, there was a collection of coins totalling to Rs 600", Kumar said wiping tears from his eyes.

So far, no assistance has been forthcoming from the side of the Government except Rs 2000 given by the local at hospital and another Rs 1000 given at home.

Not a single house has been built under Indira awaz Yojana at the village till date.

The neighbouring people have been contributing bamboo, timber, rice, money, everything to build a house and also to perform Lanna Thouram of Bidyashore which falls on April 25, Kumar added.