SC girl shown ‘dead’ in record, loses aid under govt scheme

Ravinder Saini

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Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, July 15

A 20-year-old SC girl has been deprived of benefits of the Apni Beti Apna Dhan scheme as she is dead in the record of the Women and Child Development Office (WCDO).

Her father, Ram Kumar, a labourer, is running from pillar to post for the past three months to no avail. Jyoti is to be married in three months. The WCDO has also expressed its inability to redress his grievance since the entry of her death was entered in the record 14 years ago.

“I hoped that the assistance of Rs25,000 would be of help in solemnizing the wedding but the apathy of the officials has shattered my hopes. The WCDO has refused to extend any help, said Sheria resident Kumar, a father of four children- three daughters and a mentally challenged son.

He said that he had purchased Indira Vikas Patra’s worth Rs2,500 under Apni Beti Apna Dhan scheme in the name of Jyoti in October 31, 1995. The amount was to mature after his daughter turned 18, he added.

“After visiting the Aanganwari Centre at Dighal village in April, I learnt that my daughter had died in 2001 as per state records. When I questioned this falsity, the aangwanwari workers sent me to the WCDO in Jhajjar where she was shown as dead, he added.

He said he would meet the DC to seek justice. How can she be deprived of her rights despite being alive, he questioned.

CDPO Sunita Sambharwal said since she had recently joined the office, she could not say anything. The matter would be resolved soon after an inquiry, she added.