Divyang on tricycle travels 80 km to meet Odisha CM. Here’s why

Bhubaneswar: A divyang person had to return his home with empty hand from Bhubaneswar after covering 80 km distance on his tricycle as he failed to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeking financial aid for his ailing daughter.

Jugal Kishore Nayak, the 87-year-old divyang man, a native of Chanduramjurai village in Singharpur panchayat in Jagatsinghpur district, had visited Naveen Niwas with a hope to meet Patnaik.

He waited for four hours in front of the CM’s residence. He was asked to visit the grievance cell. However, he returned with disappointment.

According to reports, Nayak is surviving with two daughters after his wife’s death. While his one daughter is married, he is staying with second daughter, who is suffering from serious physical ailments, in a hut. Around Rs 4,000 is spent towards medicines for his daughter every month, but he is unable to bear the medical expenses from his old age pension, which the only asset for his livelihood.

He approached Sarpanch, block office, district headquarters and SCB Medical College & Hospital for help for treatment of his daughter. However, his efforts went in vain. As the poor man could afford huge amount every month, he decided to visit CM’s residence seeking financial aid for treating her ailing daughter.

The Divyang man started his 80-km tough journey in his tricycle on Saturday and reached Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.

After four days of journey during scorching summer, Nayak made his way back to his village with disappointment as he could not meet CM here in the city.

The old man, who looked weak and pale after riding tricycle, again travelled on his tricycle to reach his home crossing all the hazards coming on his way.

He has been tired, but has continued his efforts to save his daughter.

He said that he is now too weak to keep on trying to cure his daughter from ailments. “It will be more painful and tragic for me if she dies earlier since I am alive,” Nayak said.

He does not know the ailments her daughter is suffering from, but he said that she is not able to move.