House that! Mandi man living in tarpaulin shed for 10 years

 Central, Himachal govt shelter schemes fail to come to his rescue

MANDI: Despite numerous government schemes aimed at aiding the poor, Roshan Lal of Taryamli village in Drang Assembly constituency of Himachal Pradesh has found no relief.
Living barely 20 km from the district headquarters of Mandi, Roshan has been residing in a tent for the past 10 years on the ruins of his grandfather’s house.

Separated from his family, he endures harsh weather without a permanent shelter as no government body or local administration has come forward to offer any assistance.

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10 years of misery, and counting

Roshan, son of Devi Lal, has been living in dire conditions for over a decade. His temporary tent is his only home, regardless of the season — be it heavy monsoon or freezing winter. He lacks access to basic housing, and neither the local panchayat nor the district authorities seem to have any plans to provide him proper shelter.

Roshan, who is nearly 50 years of age, lives alone and cooks his own meals. A daily wager, he often has to go without food when he doesn’t find any work.

Ignored by community, family alike

Roshan’s situation is not hidden from the local community, his family or even elected representatives. Yet, no one has taken any steps to pull him out of this cycle of poverty and neglect. A local brought Roshan’s condition to the attention of the media, hoping that public awareness would lead to intervention and grant him his basic right to live with dignity.

It is said that Roshan has had disputes with his family, who live just a few metres away in a house built with the support of his wife’s maternal family. While they live comfortably, Roshan remains isolated and ignored.

According to locals, Roshan’s grandfather once had a mud house on the land where Roshan now lives. However, the house eventually collapsed, leaving only crumbling walls. Roshan somehow acquired a tarpaulin and has since been living under it in all kinds of weather, enduring harsh conditions for 10 years.

No help from authorities

Panchayat pradhan Duni Chand could not be reached for comment while ward member Mahendra Singh explained that Roshan’s land is technically in Shadla, which falls under Katindi panchayat. Official records place him in that panchayat, though he also has property in Taryamli. The rift in his family has contributed to his current condition, with his wife and children living separately in the house built with the help of her family.