Belthangady: At a juncture of time when India is talking of reaching to the skies, here in Belthangady, lives a Koraga family, which simply wants a decent roof over it’s head.
A thatched roof covered with plastic sheets makes a house for this family living at Gandhinagara Koraga colony in Charmady village. The decade-long demand for a house of the family is yet to be fulfilled and the present condition they live in reveals how sick and lethargic the elected representatives and the administration has been.
Kundakoraga, his brother Babu and sister Chandravathi reside in this structure that can easily pass off as some filthy shanty. The family has run from pilar to post to get a house in their name. The officials who visited the colony several times failed to open their eyes to check the apathy of this family. There are 7 houses in the colony in total. But Kundakoraga and family do not have a decent house. When it rains, water gushes into their house dampening their hopes too.
Even though the village has turned ‘Swach’ this family doesnot have a toilet. When there is no roof to stay, what hope do we have of a toilet here, says Kundakoraga.
The family of three have been staying in this tent over the last few decades. Neither do they have a house nor do they own property in their name. They do not even have documents for their current house and hence they do not have a ration card. Only one right they have is ‘Right to vote’ and voter ID is the only identity card they have. Thanks to the vision of politicians to amass as much votes as possible during polling.
The family of daily wage workers often also resorts to knitting baskets to make their both ends meet. Poverty kept the three siblings away from several happiness that life had to offer and marriage was one of them.
Shekhar Layila, dalit leader from Belthangady, said, “Though government has implemented several programmes for the Koraga community development, still there are few families deprived of basic amenities. According to government rules, dying Koraga community can avail government facilties. If they do not have their own land, there is a provision to build a house in government land. Government should take action and provide a house to the family.”
Taluk social welfare officer said, “There is no lack of funds for the housing scheme for the Koragas. Building houses for the community members is underway in several places in the taluk. I will visit Kundakoraga’s house and will take action in this regard.”
