Koraput: At a time when several State governments across the country seem to be struggling to provide affordable housing for poor, a man in Odisha’s Jeypore has set an example by donating land to landless people in the district.
M .Suryanarayan Achary so far has donated nearly 2.3 acres of land in small patches to some 250 poor landless families in his area.
“He is no less than a God for us as earlier we did not have a piece of land. Now we have a permanent place to stay,” said A. Savitri, a beneficiary.
Achary, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, had moved to Odisha some 40 years back and settled here. Surprisingly, he runs a door and window fabrication workshop and stays on rented accommodation.
The 60-year-old claims that he had thought of donating land and helping the poor some 20 years back on the advice of a priest.
“I had purchased the land and registered in the name of 160 persons 10 years back. Now the land to another 100 people was transferred,” said Achary.
Achary’s son M. Ramesh said that after land was provided to some people, others came and sought help and his father did not disappoint them either.