Bhubaneswar: For millions of Indians, government schemes are a lifeline. If they weren’t, a tribal man from Gajapati district wouldn’t have had to mortgage his wife’s gold ornament to access benefits under the state government’s flagship Subhadra scheme.
This poignant incident sheds light on the dire circumstances faced by marginalized communities, who rely on government schemes for their very existence.
According to sources, a resident of Nuagada block in Gajapati district mortgaged his wife’s gold ornaments to purchase a mobile phone so that he could link his wife’s phone number with the Aadhaar card and get OTP to access benefits under the Subhadra Yojana scheme.
The matter came to light when the man went to a local shop to buy a phone and SIM card, where he shared his story, leaving the shopkeeper stunned.
The man claimed that he had no option left but to pawn his wife’s gold ornaments as he was struggling to make ends meet due to lack of work and was unable to afford a phone. He is hopeful of getting benefits from the Subhadra scheme, which aims to provide financial assistance to women.
Meanwhile, a video of the man sharing his story is circulating on social media, highlighting the desperation and the struggles of marginalized communities in accessing the benefits of the government scheme.
It is pertinent to mention that as per the application process, applicants are required to link their Aadhaar card to a mobile number, a crucial step that enables them to receive a One-Time Password (OTP) for verification purposes. Additionally, applicants must also ensure that their Aadhaar card and mobile number are linked to their bank account, facilitating the smooth transfer of benefits under the Subhadra Yojana scheme.