The family of International Association Geomagnetism and Aeronomy Young Scientist Award recipient Dr Deepak Kumar Karan of Maniabandha village under Badamba block is leading a miserable life.
In an interview with this newspaper, Dr Karan’s father Nilamani soke about his plights.
He said that it was very difficult in educating his son without any assistance from the Government and any political leaders, who are now congratulating Deepak for his feat.
“I worked as a labourer in the Jagannath Spinning Mill at Nuapatna for a few years. But I lost job after its closure. I faced difficulties in feeding my family comprising wife, two daughters and only son Deepak,” said Nilamani.
He said Deepak kept studying with the help of teachers Debanand Pal, Pradeep Kumar Sahoo and others, who provided coaching and study materials free-of-cost and even capital assistance to bring him to this height.
“I had never gone to the ruling political leaders for getting benefits under any welfare scheme after I was discriminated and humiliated by workers the BJD. It is because I was once nominated as a Ward Member with support of the Congress,” he said.
Till date, he is living in a kutcha house roofed with broken asbestos. Though he is eligible to get a BPL ration card, Biju Pucca ghar, latrine, he is yet get any of them but due to political discrimination, he said.
Nilamani expressed unhappiness saying that though Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated Deepak on twitter for his feat, but he forgot to know about his life's struggle story.
Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain posted in the Twitter that he was associated with the family of scientist Deepak for three decades but forgot to post how Deepak's family was deprived of all welfare schemes, including IAY, BPL ration card etc.
Now, he is waiting for Deepak's stipend funds. Local intellectuals have demanded that the Government pay assistance to Deepak’s family soon.