Born Into Penury: Failing to Make the Cut

Representing the struggle of thousands of people living below the poverty line, Dugi Mai Bodra’s life-story is one of steadfast perseverance and dogged determination that finally culminates in her finding her own power through the SHG to which she belonged

I n the past six decades, India has seen huge leaps in development...both economically and socially. The percentage of people below the poverty line (BPL) was 50.1 per cent in the rural areas in 1993–94. It dropped to 25.7 per cent in 2011–12. In absolute terms, nearly 404 million people were poor in 1993–94 and the figure stood at 269 million in 2011–12 (Tendulkar Estimates). Thus, some 135 million people have moved out of their ‘destitution’ as per government reports and estimates. In terms of health, the life expectancy of people has gone up to 65 years in 2012 from 32 years at the time of Independence. Literacy levels have gone up from 16 per cent in 1951 when the first Census was conducted, to around 74 per cent in 2011.

However, the following is a story of one amongst those 269 million people who failed to make the cut.

This 58-year-old woman, an old gentle lady left me in awe of her boldness and spirit when she walked all the way in the scorching heat of May (covering her head with some leaves) to the Federation meeting. Along with her hamlet women, she walked 10 km to submit an application regarding the non-issuance of PDS ration in the village for over six months.

“My name is Dugi Mai Bodra. My name in my Aadhaar card has been incorrectly recorded as Durga Bodra. It didn’t matter much until now when the bank-babus asked me to submit my Aadhaar number so that it could be linked to my account. I’ve since then paid four visits to the centre to rectify the error, paying an additional Rs 100 for the process. I fear my pension will be scrapped if I don’t submit it soon. When I go to the bank with my current Aadhaar card, the bank babus reprimand me and ask me whose Aadhaar card I have submitted.