Bhubaneswar: An elderly couple from Kandhamal district have sold a portion of their land, borrowed money and even mortgaged their old-age pension cards to ensure their 26-year-old son can pursue his medical education.
The couple, Kepanga Sunamajhi (70) and his wife Nagatalu (70), are both marginal farmers from Dhusari village in daringbadi district.
Their son, Sushant Sunamajhi, cleared the NEET examination this year and secured admission to Maharaja Jajati Keshari Government Medical College in Jajpur.
With limited resources at their disposal, they reportedly pawned their pension cards to raise Rs 24,000 for Sushant’s admission. While one card was pawned to a village moneylender for Rs 12,000, the other was given to a member of a self-help group (SHG) for an equal amount.
Both Kepanga and Nagatalu receive Rs 1,000 each per month under the state’s Madhu Babu Pension Yojana. The lenders will collect the monthly pension amounts until the borrowed money is repaid.
Though the loans carry no interest, the arrangement has left the elderly couple without access to their regular pension, which otherwise helps them meet their daily needs.
Arpha Majhi, a member of the Dhusari village SHG, which lent Rs12,000 to them, said the group decided to extend financial assistance after witnessing the parents’ distress. “Seeing the parents’ sadness, we gave them money in exchange for their pension card,” she said.
For the couple, who have depended on farming for their livelihood, parting with their land has meant sacrificing a valuable asset to secure their son’s future.
With their limited resources stretched thin, the couple now faces the daunting task of financing the remaining years of his medical course while managing their own expenses.
For Nagatalu, the pride of seeing her son secure a medical seat is accompanied by anxiety over the financial challenges ahead. “We are happy for our son, but the expenses have become a concern for us,” she said.
Sushant’s success in NEET this year and subsequent admission to Maharaja Jajati Keshari Government Medical College in Jajpur has been a story of grit and determination.
He completed his schooling up to Class 10 at Gadapur Government School in Daringbadi block before pursuing his Plus II education at a government-aided college at Kanisi, Berhampur. After completing his Plus II, he returned to his village and helped his parents in farming, apart from preparing for NEET.
His journey to securing a medical seat was far from easy, as he cracked NEET on his third attempt. He did not take private coaching, and relied on the internet as his primary learning resource during his self-study preparation for the examination.
But the struggle is far from over. Sushant has also expressed concern about meeting the financial requirements of his studies, as his parents have already sold land and mortgaged their pension cards to support his dream.
“Beyond college fees, I will need money for accommodation, food, books and other educational necessities. My parents are worried about how they will meet these expenses throughout my medical course,” he said.