Phulbani (Odisha), Jan 10 (PTI) Eight hours ofgruelling work every day for two years, Jalandhar Nayak hasbeen single-handedly moving mountains to construct a15-kilometre road, connecting his village Gumsahi to the mainroad in Phulbani town of Kandhamal.
The district administration has now decided to honourand support Nayak's efforts by paying him under the MGNREGSscheme.
"I am overwhelmed with Nayak's effort anddetermination to cut mountains to build a road. He will bepaid under MGNREGS scheme for all the days he has worked,"Brunda D told reporters yesterday.
Much like Bihar's 'mountain man' Dasrath Manjhi, whohas spent 22 years of his life to build a 360-feet road,Nayak, with his steely resolve, has carved out an 8-km-longstretch through hillocks in two years and plans to extend itby another 7 km in the next three years.
The 45-year-old tribal man, who has never had accessto education, said the problems faced by his three sons incrossing the hillocks to reach school in the town prompted himto take up hammer and chisel.
Nayak's efforts went largely unnoticed until yesterdaywhen the collector invited him to her office, having readreports about him in a local newspaper.
The collector offered him financial support anddirected the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Phulbani toengage labourers and complete the road construction work.
Interestingly, Nayak and his family are the onlyresidents of the village. Others have left Gumisahi long agoowing to lack of proper road and essential facilities.
Armed with a hammer, digging bar and chisel, Nayak,who earns his livelihood by selling vegetables, wants to makelife easier for his sons.
He thanked the district administration for recognisinghis efforts.
"The district collector has assured me to complete theconstruction of the road to my village," Nayak said.
The collector said they are planning to felicitateNayak for his determination and hard work during the KandhamalUtsav.
"We are thinking of felicitating Jalandhar Nayakduring the Kandhamal Utsav for his strong determination toconstruct a road in this remote part of the state," she said.
PTI COR AAMRMS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.