Two visually impaired women from Ganjam district of Odisha have become inspiration for others lately. Their case is a unique instance of friendship. They don’t have any other family members, but both of them have turned a family. Once upon a time they were stranger to each other, now living in a common house as family members. They are struggling hard to live their lives in lieu of their physical deficiency. Yet, they have not lost hope.
Sulochana Jena and Sadhabani Sahu live in a house in the Indhanpur village in Khairaput panchayat under Belguntha block of Ganjam district. Both of them are blind.
Sulochana’s original home is Khairiput. When she was a child her father passed away. She lost her both eyes in an accident. She has struggled a lot. Her father was also blind.
Sadhabani was blind from birth. She got educated in a blind school. After some years her mother and father passed away one after one. Yet, she did not lose patience. She passed 10th class in 2001. Later, she also completed higher secondary and then Secondary Training. She also tried to get a job but in vain.
After some years, both this women met at an institute. Soon they became friend. And within some days, they decided not to depend either on their relatives or become a liability to any one else, rather they would live together. Since, both of them are visually impaired, they can very well understand the feeling of each other.
The two friends are now living in a common house. They get some Government aid and rice for a living.
After death of their parents, the other relatives have not kept any relation with these two. However, their neighbours and the villagers often help them.
Now Sulochana is 45 years old. Talking to Kalinga TV, she lamented that if she would be given a government job, then life will be easier for both of them.
Ms Kalinga