Sonepur: Jagannath Das, a cycle mechanic at Nimna Square of Dasrajpur village under Ulunda block in Subarnapur district, is as skilful as any other cycle repairer. But on closer look, one realises he is physically challenged and he hasn’t allowed his handicap to come in the way of running his cycle repair shop as successfully as any other mechanic.
Jagannath, 46, cannot walk properly. His limbs are always shaking. He has also problem with his vision.
The proverb ‘When the going gets tough, the tough gets going’ is aptly applicable for Jagannath who confronts challenges in life with a positive attitude.
He had been like any other normal boy until he was 16 years old when he met with an accident which changed his course of life. “I used to cycle to my school at Ulunda … play with my friends … do every other thing what my friends were doing. I can still remember. I was in Class X. I met with a road accident and it left me physically challenged, drawing a line between me and my education,” he recalled.
A few days later, I pulled up my courage and started my cycle repairing shop against a wall of a house at Nimna Square by setting up a roof, he added.
His shop is still there. Over the years, he has lost his parents. He stays with his elder brother.
When asked if he gets any government help, he said he gets nothing but pension. “If I get any financial help from the government I can expand my shop,” he added.
He said his shop gave him good earning at one time. He was able to give salary to his helping hand. “Now the time has changed. I am not able to give salary to my helping hand. I am not able to buy spare parts for my shop. I find it difficult even to run the shop,” he said.
When asked, District Social Security Officer Arttatrana Thati said, “It is not a mean thing for a person like Jagannath to stand on his own legs. If he applies for government assistance, the administration would definitely help him.”
PNN