This is a story of a 65-year-old, physically disabled woman Rudana Dehury who has to crawl for 2 kilometres every month to collect her pension of Rs. 300.

According to a story that appeared in The New Indian Express – “Incapacitated in both her legs, and with no relatives to fall back on, Rudana of Kadalimunda village crawls 2 km to Nunukapasi panchayat office under Kishorenagar block in Athmallik sub-division for getting the pension, which is her only source of sustenance.”

It’s also mentioned that her husband and two sons had left her long ago, and she has been staying alone.

“Rudana was deserted by her husband and two sons long back and has been staying alone ever since. Due to her physical condition, she has to crawl all the way to the panchayat office, crossing NH-55, to collect pension every month.” 

Her repeated pleas to the panchayat and other concerned authorities have been ignored.

Rudana reportedly said, “I had appealed on several occasions that I cannot walk as my condition does not permit me and my pension may be delivered at home. The pleas went unheard and I have to drag myself the distance to get this.”

Instead, her requests and her case have been treated with much insensitivity by the authorities.

According to the publication, Athmallik Sub-Collector Amulya Panda said, “There is no provision to deliver pension at the doorstep if there are legal heirs. We will find out if anybody can collect the money on her behalf.”

I am heartbroken not just by the apathy of the administration towards the woman, but also the family’s indifference towards her.