Bhadrak: Till June 19, 2018, Gangadhar Panda and his family had been living a happy life. He used to earn his livelihood by selling ‘dahibara and aludam’. But now time has changed for the worse as he and his minor son have to beg in markets to keep the pot boiling back at home.
This correspondent met physically challenged Gangadhar Panda on a walker and his minor son going from shop to shop, asking for alms at Bhadrak bus stand. Seeing a minor assisting his father in begging while children of his age are going to schools, this correspondent’s curiosity grew and asked Gangadhar as to what forced him to do so.
Gangadhar, a resident of Nundargaon village of Bodak panchayat under Tihidi block in Bhadrak district says he was selling ‘dahibara and aludam’ in his village and nearby villages as well. Every day he would go out from his home on bicycle with two huge pots of ‘dahibara’ and ‘aludam’ suspended on either side.
“I still remember that fateful day. It was June 19, 2018 when fate played a cruel joke on me. I was busy attending to my customers under a tree. Just at that time, a huge branch fell on me. Though it did not cause any harm to my customers, I got my thigh and waist bone fractured. I was admitted at SCB Medical College and Hospital. After treatment I returned home but on crutches. It is a cruel twist of fate and the joke is on us,” narrates Gangadhar, all in a chocked voice.
“I am not able to walk even a step without crutches. The accident has rendered me nowhere. I am no longer able to pedal bicycle. How can I sell ‘dahibara aludam’?” he adds while tears running down his cheeks.
That year he sought assistance from the Collector and received an assistance of Rs 5000. After losing his mobility, he lost his source of income. Running a six member family became a herculean task for him. He was left with no option but to ask alms.
“The day when I do not come out for begging, we all have to spend the day without food. At a time when I am not able to feed my family properly, how I can think about sending my children to school, he asks.
The family is presently living in a decrepit house with a polythene sheet stretched over it. Last Monday Gangadhar met Sub Collector Pitambar Samal and requested to include him under awas yojana. “Sub Collector sir has assured me to help me after discussing with the block development officer (BDO),” he said.
PNN