Visually impaired Niranjan of Gajapati to receive national award

(Reporters Today, Bhubaneswar): A visually impaired person named NiranjanBehera from Paralakhemundi town in Gajapati district has become the inspiration for all differently abled persons after he has been selected as ‘Best Individual for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities’ (PWDs).

He will receive the award as the Best Individual for PWDs on International Day of PWDs on December 3 from President Ram NathKovind in New Delhi.

Behera who was born in Paralakhemundi of Gajapati district in Odisha, has  lost his vision at his early age in an accident. He was enrolled at a state-run high school but failed to clear his matriculation due to 100 percent blindness.

Failure could not stop him from his zeal to work for the poor,In 2004, a local voluntary organisation called Centre for Community Development (CCD) recognisedBehera’s talent and enthuse him to work for the cause of the disabled by joining CCD.

In 2004, Behera joined Centre for Community Development (CCD), a local voluntary organisation, to work for poor and persons with disabilities.

His hard work adds more stands in his carrer and he was appointed as the state coordinator of OdishaBikalangaManch in 2010 and became President of the organisation two years later. He made legislative advocacy for the functioning of an independent disability commissioner in Odisha. Due to his efforts, the State Government has approved his recommendation and provided 10 kg of rice per month to every individual PWD in the state.

During the last cyclonic storm Titli, Behera also lost his house and now staying under a polythene roof.

However, the district administrationAnupamSaha consider to provide him shelter under PradhanMantriAwasYojana-Urban (PMAY-U), Centre’s housing scheme, acknowledging his achievements.