Bhubaneswar: The SSEPD department of Orissa organized a state award programme for the specially abled, as well as for the ability Marathon winner here Sunday, at Adivasi exhibition ground. CM Naveen Patnaik felicitated the winners of various categories of the Ability Marathon held a day earlier.
Orissa Post interacted with some of the winners on the
occasion.
Sukanta behera-Best performer in Performing Arts- I have won the state award for best dancer and I am very happy. My disability hasn’t put my spirits off, as I strongly believe everyone can perform irrespective of their physical abilities.
Sumanta Moharana-Best self employed with Locomotive disability- I had lost my legs due to polio when I was barely two years old. However, my parents have given me a unique upbringing and from my childhood I am very self-dependent. I publish”Mo Aasha” magazine, besides running Divyanga, a self-help group for the disabled. My determination to overcome my handicap has made me a state winner.
Sister Roselit- My organization, Manovikash, has won state award for best achievement in Rehabilitation of the disabled. We have a community called Aaradhana Samaj that funds us and it’s the best thing we all can do at Manovikash to help out and support the disabled.
Besides the State awardees, OP also interacted with the winners of “Ability Marathon” in diverse format like, winner of marathon in crutches, wheelchair, blind section and others.
Kamla kant Nayak- Winner of marathon in a wheel chair- In an accident I had damaged my spinal cord and due to that I had been in a wheel chair.
However, I was very confident that I will win the race on wheelchair and nothing more can bring me more happiness.
Shankarshana Bagh- Winner of marathon in Blind category- I am a student of Louis Brail School for blind and I am studying in class 10th.
Initially, my loved ones did get worried for me, but I was super-confident to win the race. Here I am with my sir and I can’t tell you how happy I am today.
Santosh kumar Sahoo- Winner of marathon in crutches category I was pretty confident about my win. I lost my legs, but never ever asked for anyone’s sympathy.
PNN
