Keonjhar: Bogged down by poverty a youth from Bhutalanda under Sukinda in Jajpur district is in imminent threat of not getting a chance to pursue higher education.
Subash Barik, a Class X boy, has adopted his traditional occupation to earn livelihood for his family.
Subash’s father had introduced him to their traditional occupation of hair dressing. Bewitched by Subash’s hair dressing and grooming skills, people of all age groups used to come to the salon.
However, tragedy hit when during his matriculation examination, Subash’s father died of liver cancer. Finding no other option, he took to hair dressing to look after his widowed mother.
Subash said, “If I fully focus on my studies and do not go for this occupation, who would earn for my family? So I am bound to earn for my family.” He is waiting for his HSC result.
Subash and his father used to earn from ritualistic head shaving during post death rituals of people in neighbouring villages. But after his father’s death, Subash came to Keonjhar and started working in his relative’s salon and earned a name for himself.
Subash’s wish is to continue his higher studies; but his economic condition stands in the way of achieving his dream. Subash said that if it is not possible to continue his study and occupation at the same time, he will choose his occupation as it is the only source of his earning.
Salon owner, 80-year-old Shyam Babu, said, “Subash will learn the basics of salon work and will be self reliant in future”. The shop is one of the oldest in Keonjhar area.
PNN