Odisha’s ‘Canal Man’: His Struggle Leads To Development

Bhubaneswar: The people of Odisha’s Talabaitarani village in Keonjhar district can hope for better days at last, thanks to the unrelenting efforts of 72-year-old Daitari Nayak, also called the ‘Canal Man of Odisha.’

Three years ago, Nayak, a farmer had hogged the headlines for carving out a three kilometer canal from the Gonasika mountain. The village had been facing scarcity of water for irrigation. Nayak decided to take matters in his own hands and carved out a canal after working there for years. He was furious with the government for not paying enough attention to the village.

But now there is a ray of hope.

“Earlier we were struggling financially. Now, I am getting Rs 10,000 per month as allowance from the government. A pucca house is now under construction for me and my family. The construction of a pucca road to my village has also started. Slowly but steadily, development has started reaching us,” Nayak said.

What is more, the government has also started to make a concrete wall around the canal carved out by him through the mountain to ensure regular and smooth flow of water to the village. 

According to Nayak, the local administration had claimed that it was not possible to bring water to the area. This was the trigger for him to carve out the canal.

“Our village used to struggle with water, which used to cascade during summers. Many used to take water from percolated pits on the earth. My family and I worked for a few years to bring water from the water streams of the mountain close to our village,” said Nayak.

Nayak was awarded the Padma Shri by the President in 2019. The Canal Man still lives in a big joint family.

Nayak’s mission is not over yet. He is now drawing the attention of the government towards the absence of Anganwadi centres, schools and healthcare facilities in his village.