Determination helps to overcome disability

BALASORE: Physical disability is not an hindrance to normal life. Anadi Behera (41) has proved this. Having lost his two hands during childhood, a determined- Anadi now manages a three-member family by selling incense sticks.He goes on foot from place to place with a bag containing packets of incense sticks around his neck. He urges people to buy them as per their requirement and drop the money in his pocket.For him, adopting the profession was an accident. “One day I was roaming in Balasore town. I approached an incense stick wholesaler. He agreed and gave me 100 packets to sell. Day by day, sales increased and today, I am earning Rs 2,000 a month,” Anadi said.He hails from Jayrampur village under Bhogarai block in Balasore district. Son of a farmer, Anadi had to quit studies mid-way to help his father in farming. At the age of 15, he came in contact with a live wire lying in the paddy field. Though he was immediately hospitalised, the doctors could not save his hands.His father sold out his agricultural lands and spent Rs 70,000 on Anadi’s treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. To save him, doctors had to amputate his two hands from elbows.“I hate begging. I would rather prefer to toil hard than seek alms from people,” he said.