Palai Kadraka, a 38-year-old woman from the rural village of Bhujabala, had been struggling for years without a ration card. She is a daily laborer; her daily wages is $2.97 and mother of four daughters. She was not accessing subsidized food grains through the Public Distribution System (PDS) could have eased her family’s financial burden. But despite repeated attempts, her application was either rejected or left pending without explanation.
Palai lacked proper documentation—her address was incorrectly in her Aadhaar card, and her husband’s name was missing from the voter list. These bureaucratic hurdles made her feel invisible in the eyes of the system.
Frustrated but not defeated, Palai decided to seek help. With the support of HDF facilitators working in her village, she attended an awareness meeting where she learned about her problems and the process of accessing ration card. The HDF guided her step-by-step: helping her corrects the errors in her Aadhaar by applying residential certificates and gathers other necessary documents.
Even after applying again, there were delays. But Palai didn’t give up. She followed up consistently—visiting the Panchayat office and to the Block level Ration card Officer with the help from community group.
After 2 years of persistence, Palai finally received her ration card.
The joy on her face the day she received the first 25 Kilogram (55.11 pounds) of subsidized rice was beyond words. Now, she is receiving every month 25 Kilogram (55.11 pounds). It was not just about food—it was about dignity, recognition, and her rightful place in the system.
Today, Palai is an active member of the Mahima group, helping others in her village that faces similar problems. Her journey stands as a powerful reminder that informed citizens and collective support can overcome even the toughest barriers.
