look news india
A very emotional and humane picture of sensitive and prompt administrative action in Uttar Pradesh has emerged from Basti district. The family of Ramkishan Pandey, living in Bhairopur area of Basti, was struggling with such terrible poverty and helplessness for the last several years that the eyes of any sensitive person would fill with tears. Not one or two, but four innocent children in the family are seriously handicapped, who could neither stand on their feet nor walk like normal children. There was not even a permanent roof over the head to live; The entire family was forced to spend the nights in the rain and storm with the help of a leaky hut and plastic foil. After losing Rs 1.5 lakh which she had earned through hard work for the land, the helpless mother was forced to beg to feed her children. But as soon as the news of the plight of this helpless family reached Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the government moved forward with full sensitivity and removed the plight of this family forever.
When Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath came to know about the pitiful condition of this family of Basti, homelessness and the suffering of four disabled children, without wasting a moment he gave strict instructions to the district administration to personally intervene. The CM had clear instructions that instead of making rounds of government files and offices, the officers should personally go to the doorstep of the victim and provide the benefits of all the necessary government schemes to the family on-the-spot in a single day.
After the order of the Chief Minister, Basti District Magistrate (DM) Kritika Jyotsna and the team of District Social Welfare Department became active immediately. The administrative staff immediately reached the spot, assessed the actual needs of the family and within 24 hours provided everything for which the family had been yearning for years.
The administration did not just give assurances, but implemented a complete action plan to fundamentally change the standard of living of the family:
| Government assistance/scheme | facility provided | Impact and relief on family |
| Kanshiram Awas Yojana | Permanent and secure flat allotted | Freedom from leaking roof and foil in rain, permanent safe shelter |
| Accessories (Wheelchairs) | Wheelchair for all disabled children | Freedom from dragging on the ground, easy movement and mobility |
| Divyangjan Pension Scheme | Regular monthly pension to elder son Ankur | Regular financial support to the family for medicines and essential expenses |
| disabled certificate | Two children are in progress, process for two is complete | Guarantee of all future state and central government schemes for the disabled |
| Antyodaya Ration Card | Provision of 35 kg free ration | Fear of hunger and starvation ends, regular supply of nutritious grains |
| Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana | Gas stove and filled LPG cylinder | Free from wet wood and smoke, clean cooking fuel |
The biggest challenge in the upbringing of disabled children is related to their education and mental development. Due to poverty and inability to walk, these children were never able to reach the doorstep of school.
On the special instructions of CM Yogi, the Basic Education Department has taken the entire responsibility of the education of these children:
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Keeping in mind the level and type of disability of the children, they are enrolled in the nearest primary school and Integrated Education Center for Children with Special Needs (CWSN).
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Basic Education Officer (BSA) has been instructed to provide remedial and inclusive education to children through special educators.
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The administration has ensured the provision of free uniforms, books, stationery and bags for the children.
Ramkishan Pandey and his wife, who suffered the brunt of neglect and poverty for years, now have expressions of relief and gratitude instead of tears. The parents became emotional while taking the keys of the permanent house and the wheelchair. He said, “We had accepted that the life of our children would be spent dragging under this mud and foil. Poverty had broken us so much that it was time to extend our hands. But Maharaj ji (CM Yogi) has come as God for us. He gave us a roof over our heads in one stroke, provided wheelchairs and pension to the children. Now our children will be able to live with respect and study. We cannot forget this favor of the government throughout our life.”
This case of Basti is a direct proof that when the intentions of the government are clear and the leadership is sensitive, then the red tape of the system is broken. Steps taken by the Uttar Pradesh government like increasing the disabled pension to ₹1,000 per month, free distribution of artificial limbs and motorized tricycles and giving priority to the disabled in housing schemes are bringing changes on the ground. This multidimensional support given to this family of Basti gives a clear message that even the cry of the most helpless person standing at the last step is directly reaching the ears of the government.