Nandapur, 13th Sept 2025: In Golur village of Nandapur block, Koraput district, Dhania Khuda, a 75% disabled woman, is surviving solely on the ₹1200 pension and 5 kg of rice under the ration card provided by the government. She is mute, orphaned, and unmarried, and makes a living through daily wage labor in the village while living in a dilapidated mud-and-asbestos house.
Due to her inability to speak, and her condition of disability, helplessness, and poor living conditions, Dhania has requested the government to include her in the housing schemes meant for the needy under the public welfare initiatives. She appeals to be included in any running scheme that provides shelter for the homeless and differently-abled individuals.
According to village residents and social worker Biranchi Matam, Dhania has been mute and mentally unwell since birth, and her parents are no longer alive. She survives by working as a laborer in the village. Because of her extreme vulnerability, she deserves to be covered under the Antyodaya housing scheme.
Dhania has urged the authorities to treat her as a disabled and helpless woman, and include her in a suitable housing assistance scheme. She also requests that instead of just 5 kg of rice, she be provided 35 kg of rice monthly to meet her food requirements.
A formal appeal has been made to the Golur Panchayat, Nandapur Block authorities, Koraput District Administration, and the State Government’s Women’s Welfare, Food Security, and Housing Departments to take immediate action in this matter.
Following this, Nandapur BDO Durgaprasad Dora and CDPO Minati Bala Pattnaik have taken note of Dhania’s condition and assured that she will be included in the Antyodaya Housing Scheme for the helpless. The District Social Welfare Officer and Women’s Protection Officer have also been informed, and the CDPO stated that they will discuss provisions for maintenance assistance to be extended to Dhania under existing welfare schemes.