Patna: Raibu Mohant is a differently-abled person of Jodapokharisahi under Patna block in Keonjhar, but his steely will power and determination to survive has vanquished his 80 percent disability. He has been self sufficient by doing cultivation while many normal people in his area while away time, leading miserable life. He has set an example for others.
Raibu (49) has been affected by polio since childhood. His two legs were unusually bent and twisted. He is not able to stand up. His two hands are his support that helps him to move and do his daily work.
His will power was immense when he used to go to high school at Chemana, 7 km from his village. He has never accepted disability as his hurdle. He was never defeated in the life struggle. He is married and leads his world with help of his wife Bhanumati. He started his vegetable cultivation near his house. Pond was near his farmland, but he had no idea how to irrigate the land for cultivation. He set up a platform on the side of pond with poles. Sitting atop the elevated platform, he drew water with bucket and poured on a channel to the farmland. And his idea was successful.
He has grown up beans, radish, tomatoes, chilli and greens.
There are weekly markets at Turumunga, Beleda and Chemana. He loads vegetables on his tricycle and sell them in the markets.
He manages his family with the earnings. His wife has taken loans from an SHG and purchased seeds and fertilizers for farming.
Despite meagre means of livelihood, the couple had married off their two daughters. Raibu gets disability pension and his family is covered under NFSA. However, Bhanumati has not been provided pension.
Raibu said that he can double his income if the government provides him subsided bore well and facilitate agriculture loan.
PNN