A Timely Hand of Support for Two Vulnerable Elders

In the remote villages of Chete Panchayat, Ramkanda Block, Garhwa, growing old can become increasingly difficult when age, poor health, limited mobility and economic hardship come together. For 83-year-old Chatur Karwa of Chete village and 71-year-old Sukan Parahiya of Suli village, everyday life is shaped by such challenges. Both live in vulnerable circumstances and were identified by the SSK team for support under the Nutrition Support for Vulnerable PVTG Families initiative.

Chatur Karwa lives alone in a very old and deteriorating house in Chete village. Due to his age and limited mobility, he cannot walk easily and moves very slowly with the support of a stick. Although he has a ration card, he is unable to travel to collect his ration and could not complete the required e-KYC, resulting in his name being removed from the ration entitlement. He has also not received his pension for the past five to six months. To complete pension-related transactions, his daughter has to call someone from a nearby CSC to visit him and take his thumb impression, for which the person charges a service fee. Economically vulnerable and frequently unwell, Chatur depends largely on his daughter, who lives nearby with her husband and brings him food once a day. For his second meal, he manages with whatever food is available.

Just a few kilometres away, Sukan Parahiya, 71, lives in Suli village near the forest in Goriyakaram Tola. His house stands in relative isolation, with few people living around him. Sukan manages most of his daily activities himself, including cooking and farming. He receives ration and pension, and sustains himself partly through small-scale cultivation. His life, however, is marked by loss and responsibility. His daughter and son-in-law passed away due to tuberculosis, leaving his 15-year-old grandson in his care. The grandson does not attend school and stays with Sukan, helping him with farming and household work. The Birsa Awas house provided to the family many years ago has become severely damaged, and they now live in an older mud house that remains their primary shelter.

Recognising the vulnerability of these two elderly PVTG men, the SSK team selected them for additional nutritional support. On 18 August 2026, Chatur and Sukan received nutrition kits under the Nutrition Support for Vulnerable PVTG Families initiative. Each kit contained 5 kg Desi Chana, 5 kg Arhar Dal, 2 kg Moong Dal, 2 kg peanuts, 4 kg Desi Gud, 2 kg Soya Chunks, 3 litres mustard oil and 2 kg salt. The support was designed to provide essential and nutritious food items to families who face greater difficulties in meeting their nutritional needs. The distribution programme was conducted in the presence of the Block Development Officer (BDO), Circle Officer (CO) and Panchayati Raj Officer, bringing institutional recognition to the needs of vulnerable community members.

For Chatur, the nutrition kit was particularly meaningful because his limited mobility and loss of ration entitlement make it difficult for him to access essential food supplies independently. For Sukan, the support provided additional food resources for a household where an elderly grandfather is also caring for his adolescent grandson. The intervention therefore offered not only food items but also a sense of care, dignity and reassurance to two elderly men living with very limited support.

The identification of Chatur and Sukan reflects the importance of reaching vulnerable elderly persons at the community level. While Chatur faces challenges related to old age, limited mobility and gaps in accessing essential entitlements, Sukan manages his household and farming activities while also caring for his 15-year-old grandson after the loss of his daughter and son-in-law. Recognising these vulnerabilities, the Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra (SSK) team extended timely support to both elderly men through the Nutrition Support for Vulnerable PVTG Families initiative, ensuring that essential nutritional assistance reached them during an important time.

For Chatur and Sukan, the support from Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra was not only about receiving a package of food items; it also gave them a sense of care, dignity and reassurance. At a stage of life when access to food and other essential services can become difficult, the SSK team's effort to identify and reach vulnerable elderly persons provided meaningful support to their daily lives. The initiative demonstrates SSK's continued efforts to ensure that vulnerable PVTG families and elderly community members are not left behind and receive timely support according to their needs.