Holding a pair of traditional instruments in his hand, Raghunath Jani of Palajhadi village of Digapahandi block of Ganjam district moves from one place to another seeking alms by singing bhajans and other songs. Raghunath is visually-challenged, but the physical limitations have not deterred him from supporting his family which includes his wife and two children.
His physical disability has not been able to break the morale of Raghunath who keeps on visiting places like Ganjam, Gajapati, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and even Andhra Pradesh and other places.
One can easily understand how tough it is for a visually-challenged person to eke out a living. Every day is a struggle for survival and Raghunath is a living example of how to lead a life of dignity without depending on anyone.
Though God has not given him eye-sight, Raghunath is blessed with a melodious voice which he uses to the best to win the hearts of people.
“I travel to different places, play instruments and sing bhajans for livelihood. It is due to Lord Jagannath’s blessing I am able to earn Rs 200 to Rs 300 or Rs 500 per day,” said Raghunath.
According to Raghunath, he has been singing for the last 20 years and trying to support his family. Braving heat and other extreme weather conditions, Raghunath travels to different places to earn a living. The only government help Raghunath has received is the artist allowance of Rs 1200 per month.
Local residents say that there could be some improvement in the condition of Raghunath if he gets some government assistance including a house.