Daspalla: (Report- Ratnakar Hota): In a heartening tale of resilience and empowerment, Revati Behera, a 48-Year-old differently-abled woman from Duda village in Odisha, has finally accessed the financial support she was entitled to from government welfare schemes after years of hardship. Her journey from neglect to empowerment underscores the critical role of awareness initiatives in combating rural poverty and exploitation. 
From Crawling to Empowerment: Odisha Woman Finally Gets Rs 25K Govt Aid


Revati, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste community and has no land, suffered a hip injury years ago that left her unable to walk and forced her to crawl around her home in pain. Despite her severe mobility challenges and economic vulnerability, she received only a monthly disability pension of ₹1,000 and struggled to secure other benefits she had rightfully applied for, such as those under the Subhadra Yojana and CM KISSAN Scheme. 
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Her despair deepened each time she checked her passbook at the Odisha Gramya Bank, Banigochha Branch, only to find no deposits. Unbeknownst to her, a deceptive individual had exploited her illiteracy and vulnerability by having her sign documents under false pretenses. Instead of opening an account in her local bank, as she believed, the fraudster opened an account at the Bank of Baroda, Daspalla Branch, without her knowledge—an account that already held ₹25,000 in accumulated benefits from the schemes she thought she had been denied. 
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The turning point came when Project Adhikaar, an initiative aimed at educating rural communities about government welfare programs, held a community awareness meeting in Duda village. Organised by Adhikaar Mitra Damodar Nayak, the meeting provided a platform for Revati to share her grievances. 
Upon hearing her story, the Project Adhikaar team immediately launched an inquiry. A few phone calls revealed the truth: her benefits had been disbursed but deposited into the unauthorized account at the Bank of Baroda, Daspalla Branch. With this discovery, Revati and her family were able to withdraw the full amount, bringing them immense relief and joy. 
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Revati expressed her gratitude to Project Adhikaar, which is jointly run by TPCODL (Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Limited) and the Mahashakti Foundation. Her story is a powerful testament to how awareness can dismantle the barriers of ignorance and exploitation that often perpetuate poverty in remote, tribal-dominated regions like Duda village, located approximately 50 km from Daspalla.

Key Takeaways from Revati’s Story

  • Importance of Awareness Programs: Initiatives like Project Adhikaar are crucial for educating marginalized communities about their rights and entitlements.
  • Vulnerability to Exploitation: Illiterate and disabled individuals are often targets of fraud; systemic safeguards are needed to protect them.
  • Collaboration for Impact: Partnerships between corporations (like TPCODL) and NGOs (like Mahashakti Foundation) can effectively bridge gaps in service delivery.
  • Government Schemes as Lifelines: Programs such as the CM KISSAN Scheme, which provides financial aid to farmers, and Subhadra Yojana can significantly alleviate poverty if accessed properly.

Revati Behera’s experience highlights a pervasive issue in rural India: ignorance exacerbates poverty. However, with targeted interventions, even the most marginalized individuals can secure their rightful benefits and restore their dignity. Project Adhikaar’s work in Odisha continues to empower communities, one village at a time.