Berhampur: The COVID-19 pandemic has dug its fangs deep into economies around the world, and Odisha is no exception. Take the plight of Berhampur’s Nagesh Patro, for instance.
Before coronavirus-induced lockdown forced the closure of schools and colleges in the last week of March, Nagesh used to be a student in daytime an
d a coolie at Berhampur railway station at night.
He has been working at Berhampur station for the last eight years, and earning Rs 150-200 per day. The pandemic, however, has pushed his dreams into disarray and darkness as his only source of income has been shut down.
A second year postgraduate student of Chikiti Degree Mahavidyalaya, 29-year-old Nagesh is pursuing a Masters degree in Odia. His dream is to work in the Railways.
“I am studying to fulfil my dream of becoming a Group C employee in the Railways,” Nagesh says.
“I just want to request the government to restart railways as soon as possible,” he pleads.