Keonjhar: Bideshi Nayak, a resident of Gumura in Keonjhar, lost his eyesight when he was just five years old.
While scores of youth lead a miserable life in his area doing nothing, Nayak, despite his visual disability, has become self-reliant, running a small shop in his village. In fact, he has even had some formal education.
Before opening his shop, he had attended a school for the visually challenged students at Siddhamatha. Thereafter, he went to Baripada where he studied Plus II, but unfortunately could not appear for the exams.
He has an uncanny ability to recognise old currency notes by touching them, but now has a little problem in recognising the newly introduced ones.
Though I get Rs 500 as monthly disability pension, it is too difficult to manage with it. If I get help, I can earn enough to keep my pot boiling:-Bideshi Nayak
Being visually challenged, he prefers to not marry. “I have my parents and brother. But I have been staying at my uncle’s house since childhood. I eke out a living from running a shop and have become self-sufficient enough to take care of my parents,” he said.
However, financial constraint has been a major hurdle in expanding the shop. “If I am provided a loan to the tune of Rs 20,000, the shop will be well stocked for business. I frequented the collectorate with someone’s help, but was frustrated. Later I went to the Chief Minister’s Grievance Redressal Cell. From there my case was referred to the Collector. But my case has not been dealt with,” he lamented.
Nayak has already spent Rs 2000 for this futile exercise. “Though I get Rs 500 as monthly disability pension, it is too difficult to manage with it. If I get help, I can earn enough to keep my pot boiling,” he said.
PNN
