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A ‘centenarian’ runs from pillar to post for help

BERHAMPUR: If the Rubi Singh Pradhan and his relatives in Kandhamal district are to be believed then he has already lived more than 100 years.

Mr Pradhan lives at Dadibadi Sahi of Simanbadi panchayat of Daringbadi block in Kandhamal district. The irony is that he is still trying hard to get benefits declared by the government for the elderly like him.

His relatives say he is yet to get the old age allowance. Although he hails from a poor family, he is not having any Below Poverty Line (BPL) card. Living a long life that too when one is away from social security is really hard. Mr Pradhan is an example of this plight.

When asked what is his age, he usually falls back to his very own rustic calculations.

According to him he was around 50 years of age when India got its freedom.

He still has a vivid memory of the enthusiasm that even the people living in remote areas of Kandhamal district had during the Independence.

He says Mahatma Gandhi had brought the Independence.

He says he was also inspired by the Mahatma to take part in the movement. But there is no documental evidence related to his claim and he has also not received any recognition from the administration about his link with freedom movement.

If he is to be believed then his present age would be around 112 years.

The inhabitants of his village are compelled to believe him as no one of Mr Pradhan’s age still lives. His eldest son has already died of old age.

The greatest pain for Mr Pradhan is that his youngest son is now bed ridden due to severe arthritis related to old age.

His two daughters are also at the fag end of their lives. At times he asks why he became so durable to see the plight and death of his own progenies. With a philosophic tone he wishes that let almighty never provide such pain to anyone like him.

He has a complain that despite independence, people like him who live in remote areas do not find any change in their lives. Neither is he eligible for subsidised rice nor has he got any house under Indira Awas Yojana.

He says how can he provide any evidence regarding his age, poverty and relation to Mahatma’s movement when he is trying hard to keep his life ticking.

The localites have demanded the government to make ascertain the age of this grand old man and provide him due respect and help if he is what he says.

At least a BPL card and an Indira Awas Yojana house can provide him some respite during his extra innings of life.

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