Post News Network
Khairaput, Jan 16: Joys of Bonda couple Dhabalu Sisa and his wife Samari, who have not seen even a train in their lives, saw no bounds when they learnt that they would fly to Delhi as special guests of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Republic Day function.
Not only the couple and their family, but the whole village is excited after the news spread. There were celebrations in the village and people were seen merrymaking consuming liquor as the couple is going to represent the Bonda tribe in the function.
After the district administration got a letter from the Prime Minister’s Office in this regard, the correspondent visited Bandiguda village to know about the couple. The villagers escorted the correspondent and the photographer to Dhabalu’s house.
There were festivities in the house as the couple along with their neighbours was enjoying Salap, a local beverage, with Dhabalu playing a tribal musical instrument ‘Singh’ made of horn.
An overjoyed Dhabalu, who was sitting outside his small thatched house with Singh, said he has not even dreamt of getting a chance to fly to Delhi. He had never gone outside of the district. Even though his eldest daughter studies Plus-II in Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KISS) in Bhubaneswar, he had never visited the state capital.
He added that he would apprise the PM about the problems related to road connectivity, drinking water and healthcare facilities faced by his community. He would request him to construct a bridge on the nullah near the village.
Members of his community earn their livelihood by cultivating food grains on forest land. However, every year they suffer a heavy loss as rain water from the hills damage their crops. That apart, huge land masses come unstuck from the hills destroying their crops.
Dhabalu said he would draw the attention of the PM about the problems and request him to provide alternative livelihood option for them.
When asked about his children, Dhabalu, who is loved by his community members, said while his eldest daughter Malati is studying in Bhubaneswar, his other daughters Lili and Ranjita study in Class-II and Class-III in Kudumulugumma Girls’ Upper Primary School. His son Tutu studies in an English medium school in Malkangiri, he added.
Dhabalu said he and his wife work for social harmony and development of Bonda community. A self help group has been formed by their efforts and it is working for women empowerment. Bonda Unnayan Santha is assisting them in their endeavour.
When contacted, Project Administrator of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Ramakrushna Gond, said the administration has prepared all the documents for the couple’s travel to Delhi.
They would leave for Bhubaneswar in a special vehicle January 19 and meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik January 21, after which, they would start for Delhi in a special plane. They will be hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
MLA Dambaru Sisa termed the invitation by the PM as a matter of pride for the Bonda community. He expressed his gratitude to the CM and PM for selecting the couple from his area to represent the tribe.
