Bargarh: Everything was going well for Mandodori from Samarapali village under Rajabadasambar block in this district till the death of her husband. But, the responsibility of bringing up four children, including two physically-challenged sons, has made her life miserable.
After the death of her husband Narayan, Mandadori has taken all pains to feed and educate her children. However, acute poverty forced her to discontinue the education of her sons. Himanshu (17) could not further his education beyond matric while his elder brother Ramesh (28) studied till VII.
Both the brothers are physically challenged since birth. They are of short stature and unable to move. But they have never let their deformity come in the way their studies. They were bright students but due to the shortage of money, both of them couldn’t go for higher studies.
However their two sisters are still going to the school, attending class VII and class III, respectively.
Apart from the 25kg PDS rice, Mandadori’s source of income is the widow pension and her two sons’ disability pensions, totalling Rs 1,100. She finds it difficult to run the family with whatever money she receives now. The entire family lives in a two-room thatched house. Moreover, the one-acre land has not been irrigated, making it difficult for her to rely on agriculture as well.
“Now I am working as a domestic servant in others’ houses and managing my family. But what would happen to my children when I don’t have the strength to continue working,” asked Mandadori.
Another family in Khaliamunda village under the same block has also been experiencing the similar plight of Mandadori. Kandarpa and Moti’s only son Dayanidhi is a physically-challenged one whose limbs are not functioning since birth. Despite his deformity, he showed an interest in studies since childhood. He used to go to school on a tricycle. Four years ago he also passed the matric exam but the poverty-stricken family couldn’t continue Dayanidhi’s education.
The two families hope for assistance from the administration to help continue education of their children. PNN