Aged Sangrur couple lives in fear of house collapse

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 23

An aged couple in Kohriya village is living under constant fear after a portion of their house gave way due to rains last week, while the remaining part may collapse anytime soon.

They have been approaching the authorities seeking financial help to repair the damaged portion of their house but to no avail. The couple has not been receiving their pension for the last two months, which has made things tougher for them.

“After heavy rainfall last week, a portion of our house collapsed while the remaining part is likely to give way as it needs immediate repair. We have filled all forms seeking financial aid twice or thrice, but have not received any help from the government to date,” said 70-year-old Ruldu Khan.

Khan and his wife Tejo Begum are childless. To earn livelihood, Khan used to work as a mechanic in the village. But for the last around 10 years, he is unable to work due to his deteriorating health and monthly pension is their only source of income.

“We have no walls or door in our toilet as we don’t have the funds to construct it. I have no grudge against any official, but we only want to request the Punjab Government for immediate help as our house can collapse at any moment,” Khan added.

His wife Begum said both of us try our best to spend most of the time outside the house.

“The government runs many welfare schemes and we are not demanding a new house, but only requesting funds for repairing the old one,” she added.

Some villagers said they had also been trying to arrange funds for the couple to help them.

Sunam Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manjit Kaur said she would take appropriate action to help the couple. “My office has not received any request from the couple, but I will check it from the other departments too and look into the matter to help them.”

Without pension for 2 months

• Seventy-year-old Ruldu Khan and his wife Tejo Begum of Kohriya village have no children 
• To earn livelihood, Khan used to work as a mechanic in the village. But for the last 10 years, he is unable to work due to his deteriorating health
• Monthly pension is their only source of income. But they have not been receiving the pension for last 2 months