Bhubaneswar: In a moment that has touched thousands of hearts across Odisha, a completely visually-impaired man who sells papad on the streets to feed his family of five broke down before Jajpur District Collector Ambar Kumar Kar today – and the Collector responded not with files and formalities, but with a warm embrace.
Shatrughan Behera, 38, from Rasuna village in Rasulpur block, is 100% blind. He has never seen the faces of his elderly parents, his wife, or his little daughter – yet he carries the weight of their survival on his shoulders every single day. With no land, no steady income, and no proper roof over their heads, the family lives in a kutcha house. Half the roof is being repaired, leaving the rooms in chaos. Rain or shine, Shatrughan walks the roads selling papad, the only way he knows to put food on the table.
“I fell down once while selling papad. Since then, my kidney has been displaced a little”, Shatrughan told the Collector, his voice trembling.
The pain never leaves him. He has begged everyone for a small piece of land and a pucca house under any government scheme, but no one listened.
Today, someone finally did. When Shatrughan reached the Collector’s office during the weekly grievance day, he poured out years of pain and helplessness. Collector Ambar Kumar Kar listened in silence, then stood up, and hugged him in reciprocation. “I just hugged him. He also embraced me. It was the most natural thing to do,” the Collector said.
The Collector immediately directed officials to fast-track Shatrughan’s case. He revealed that Shatrughan already receives the Rs 3,500 monthly Divyang pension, but his biggest need – a pucca house – will now be personally monitored. “I am taking personal responsibility for his pucca house,” Kar assured. “We are also coordinating with the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) for his treatment.”
As Shatrughan left the office, still wiping tears, he could barely speak. “For the first time, someone heard me. For the first time, someone hugged me and said, ‘I will take care’. I came here broken, but I am going back with hope.” Videos of the emotional embrace have gone viral, with citizens praising the Collector’s display of humanity. For Shatrughan and his family, a simple hug from the District Collector has become the light at the end of a very long, very dark tunnel.
For Shatrughan and his family, the Collector’s kindness has brought a new lease on life. With the promise of a pucca house and medical treatment, they are hopeful for a brighter future. As Shatrughan said, “I came here broken, but I am going back with hope.”
The incident has sparked a wave of admiration for Collector Ambar Kumar Kar, who has shown that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference. His empathetic approach has inspired many.
