Banarpal: Jagannath Behera, popularly known as Baji, runs a fruit stall near the block office here in Angul district. If his is a household name in the locality, it is because of his generous personality and willingness to help others in need.
Baji is especially famous for writing applications for free for those in distress and visiting the government offices to get their job done.
A matriculate, Baji has always an eye for such people that are having difficulty in writing an application. “Even when I am selling fruits, I am always in wait for such people that are in need of a person like me to help them with writing applications. Stress on their faces is enough for me to know that they are in a fix,” he says.
After dealing with my customers, I approach them offering my help. After hearing their issues, I write applications for them, he adds.
Baji has so far written more than 15, 000 applications in past 20 years. Out of these, most applications are of the people applying for old-age pension, widow pension, disability pension and for inclusion in Kalia scheme, Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
This voluntary service has endeared him to hundreds of people, both known and unknown to him.
“Having him in our locality is like a blessing from God. Apart from those coming to the block office, he also reaches out to those who come to the tehsildar office or police station. And what makes him dearer to people is that he never asks for any money for the services provided,” a local man says.
Baji says he writes applications for the poor for it gives him pleasure. “That said, I never think my job is done after writing an application. I take personal interest to ensure that the application reaches its logical conclusion. I take out leisure time and visit the concerned offices to follow up,” he informs.
Baji’s family comprises four members- him, his wife, one son and a daughter. “With whatever I earn from my fruit stall, I hardly have any difficulty in running my family,” he concludes.
PNN