Keonjhar: At a time when thousands of educated youth look down upon menial labour and prefer to remain unemployed than taking up such physically demanding jobs, a girl from a remote village in Keonjhar district is breaking stereotypes by working as a petrol pump operator, a job hitherto considered befitting only for men.
For Sabita Naik, however, it is just any other job. She is responsible for putting bread on the table for her mother and two younger brothers. Hailing from Banpur village, she now works at a filling station near College Square on the PWD Office road. With a cash bag hanging from her shoulder, Sabita briskly and efficiently tops up fuel for cars and two-wheelers.
Sabita’s parents used to work as daily wagers. When she was in Class VII, her father passed away. Her mother later took up odd jobs to run the house. Despite several hardships, Sabita managed to complete school but that was the end of her education.
“After school, it became difficult for me to go for higher studies. My mother was in no condition to finance my higher education and so I had drop out,” said Sabita. Her brother Kalia Naik too had to drop out of school. The youngest brother now studies in Class VII at Gobindapur primary school.
Sabita realized that she would have to take up a job in order to alleviate her mother’s plight and help her make ends meet. “In 2010, I decided to give a helping hand to my mother. At that time, I got a job as an operator at a filling station,” Sabita said. She has been working there ever since.
“I get Rs 4,000 a month. Apart from making ends meet, I bear the education costs of my younger brother. I hope my bother will pursue higher studies and get a good job. Meanwhile, I’m also looking out for a job for my brother Kalia,” Sabita said. PNN
