Family lives under tarpaulin sheet in Hazaribag as wait for govt housing continues

Hazaribag: For two generations, an eight-member family in Hazaribag district’s Chauparan block has been waiting to get govt housing. Despite repeated applications, verification and inclusion in housing scheme lists, the family continues to live under a tarpaulin sheet after their mud house collapsed last year.Daily wager Rajkumar Singh Khairwar, 41, his parents, wife and four children, have been living under the plastic sheet at Ganga Ahar village under Jagdishpur panchayat since then. During the day, the family takes shelter under a tree to escape the heat, while nights are spent beneath the tarpaulin sheet spread over an incomplete brick structure. They said rainwater enters the makeshift shelter during monsoon and strong winds often force them to stay awake at night, holding the tarpaulin sheet in place.Rajkumar said his father has spent decades applying under various govt housing schemes but never received the benefit. Later, Rajkumar applied for a house in the name of his wife, Tara Devi. “All documents were submitted and verification was completed, but we are still waiting to get a house,” he said.After the mud house collapsed last year, the family sold one cottah of land for Rs 80,000 to build a small house, but could raise only a 4-5-ft-high brick wall before work stopped.

Tara said the family cooks, stores rations and keeps belongings under the tarpaulin sheet. “Govt talks about providing houses to the poor, but we have been living in the open for the past one-and-a-half years,” she said.Mukhiya’s representative Parmeshwar Sahu said Tara’s name was forwarded under the Abua Awas Yojana in 2024 and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in 2025. “ “Verification has been completed, but her name is lower down in the waiting list,” he said.Barhi sub-divisional officer (SDO) Johan Tuddu said, “We initiated the process to allot them housing under Ambedkar Awas Yojana last week. They will get a house soon.”