Keonjhar: “Bike service to hospital available from 6 am to 9 am and 6 pm to 9 pm,’’ thus reads a writing on the walls of Rabindra Kumar Moharana, 54, a resident of Tolapada in Anandapur block of Keonjhar district.
Moharana stands apart from others as he renders voluntary service to patients needing to be shifted to hospitals. He ferries patients on his motorcycle to hospitals. Many people have made use of his bike ambulance service since 2000.
Moharana’s bike service has played a crucial role in transporting patients to the nearby hospitals at a time when ambulance services are not available to people in remote areas. Sometimes, patients die here as they are not shifted to hospitals in time.
Moharana is a carpenter by profession. “My village is 10 km from Anandapur sub-divisional hospital. Poor patients are unable go to hospitals due to lack of money and some fail to get ambulance service. I take them to hospitals on my old bike,” he said.
“I do this not to draw attention, but to help those in genuine need which gives me immense satisfaction,” he added.
Moharana has been working as a carpenter for 40 years. He sometimes goes out of the district to work in houses, temples and offices. His family consists of wife, four daughters and a son. Three of his daughters are married.
He recalled his early days when he used to learn carpentry from his father. He is also teaching students who are eager to learn free. Moharana has not received any financial support from any government agency or anyone so far.
PNN