Kolabnagar: With grit and indomitable spirit one can attain any height. This has come true in case of a group of jobless Dalit youths of Dhaudapada village of Debighat panchayat under Koraput block who have already made a name for themselves in the district by forming a musical band.
Significantly, the 15-member party, belonging to SC/ST community of the village which is just 20 km from the district headquarters, is yet to seek aid from the government to run the band. The band is an extension of a self help group (SHG) the youths had formed earlier, it was learnt.
Troubled by the pain of unemployment, the group led by Nilambar Khil (25) decided to do something to satiate their hunger and put their skills to good use. As all of them had the knack of playing musical instruments, they wanted to form a musical band as an SHG. However, they did not have enough money to buy instruments. To achieve their goal, the members started working in a stone quarry and save some parts of their earning. Nilambar and his party managed to procure instruments worth Rs20,000 and started the band in January 2015.
The members began practising every evening under a baniyan tree in the village to hone their skills. With perseverance, the group went on to become a popular band in undivided Koraput district in no time.
At present, the members not only get accolades for music in towns like Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Koraput, their passion for music has helped them improve their economic status, Shyam Khil (22), Tama Khil (19), Gurunath Khil (24) and Santosh Pangi (28) of the team said.
Meanwhile, other members Jagabandhu Jani (18), Chandra Muduli (22) and Dama Karisani along with the group leader Nilamber sought financial assistance from the district administration to procure some better instruments so that they can improve upon their performance.
“With grant from the government we can achieve what the other SHGs have failed to do so far,” Nilambar and co said. PNN