After Waiting 3 Years For A Job, Jhagram Youth Wheels Himself For 15 Km To Reach Office Everyday

When it comes to people with disabilities, we still have a long way to go to build a society that offers accessibility and equal opportunities for all. An example of such an instance is when a 10-year old boy from Hyderabad pushed his disabled mother in a wheelchair for 350 km just to be able to reunite with his family. But what always seems to shine through is people’s relentless spirit, and here is a story that proves it.

As per a report in The New Indian Express, a 32-year old man named Jagannath Mahato who uses a wheelchair, travels around 15 km to reach his office every day. Living in a village in Gopiballavpur which is in West Bengal, he works as an employee of Jhargram district Collectorate. He currently earns a monthly salary of Rs. 9,000 and wishes to secure a permanent government job.

After his legs became lifeless shortly after his birth, this is how life has looked like for him. He explains, “In school, I crawled up the stairs to reach my classroom, and sometimes, my classmates gave me a hand by lifting me.”

He was always very determined to complete his education up until his graduation and hence, proceeded to pursue geography honors from a college which was about 55 km away from his home. He said, “I rented a small room and took private tuition. I had to crawl within my room for household work and out on the road to reach the college.”

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After completing his graduation, he now had to earn a living in order to support his parents and his wife. He did so by taking private tuitions for over 100 students and traveled over 20 km in his wheelchair every day to reach his students.

He recounted a particular incident in 2012 when he was amongst the crowd who stood at the roadside to welcome Mamata Bannerjee who was touring the state after she had won the election. He recalls, “I was returning from my coaching center when I saw the crowd eager to see our new CM. As a beaming Mamata waving at us, I too responded by raising my hand.”

Describing the life-turning moment, he continues, “Her convoy suddenly stopped. I was surprised when she came to my wheelchair. She asked my name and about my education. She directed the officials accompanying her to look into my case. Hours after she left, senior officials visited my house.”

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However, Mahato revealed that he ended up waiting for 3 years before the job opportunity that was assured to him came by. Remembering his second meeting with her, he says, “I met the CM again in an award ceremony where I was felicitated. She recognized me, and I told her that I was yet to get a job.” He finally received an offer to collaborate as a casual worker in Jhargram’s district collectorate in the year 2015.

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Describing his situation, he explains, “Every day, I travel 15 km on my wheelchair to attend office. I get Rs 9,000 per month.” He also expressed his greatest yearning saying “I will be grateful if the government appoints me as a permanent employee.”

We hope that Jagannath’s story pushes the authorities to take relevant steps to improve the lives and conditions of those with disabilities. We all need to ensure as a society that everyone has access to equal opportunity and means to reach our fullest potential.

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