Keonjhar: Bideshi Jena, who has been hawking newspapers for the past 33 years, is familiar to most residents in Keonjhar. His honesty and friendly demeanour have endeared him to all.
Though he is a resident of Atapur, he has been staying with his family at Gobindapur. Now, he keeps his pot boiling with earnings from newspaper hawking.
Once he used to get only around Rs 200 a month from newspaper hawking, but over the years his earnings have increased enough to manage his family — his wife, three sons and a daughter — well
Bideshi feels proud of this profession. ”No profession is bad. If one can do his work sincerely it will certainly yield results.”
He leaves his bed by 4.30 am and goes to the nearby bazaar after a bath. On the way, he has a light snack of dosa or upma.
Carrying a load of newspapers, he moves from house to house to deliver them and returns by 2 pm. He also collects subscription fees from customers. After returning home, he takes his lunch and rests.
“Usually, shopkeepers do not pay subscription fee during the day. In the evening, I go out to the bazaar and collect money and return home at 9 pm,” he added.
He likes to eat roti and curry at night.
“With earnings from newspaper hawking, I pay for the education of my children, apart from running the family. My elder son is doing diploma after graduation. My younger son is in Class X and daughter is studying Plus-II,” he said.
