He's blind and ferries water to make a living
Apr 28, 2007 - 8:19:36 AM
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'Khalko is a man of great dignity. He is not a man to live on others' mercy,' said Mohan Mahto, who owns a small kiosk.
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By IANS,
[RxPG] Ranchi, April 28 - Karlos Khalko is 50 and has been blind for 26 years of his life. For some 15 years now, he's been getting up before dawn to collect water and ferry it to roadside kiosks. That's his way of earning a living. And he's understandably proud of his achievement.
His water carrier is made of two mustard oil tins attached to a bamboo beam with ropes. Khalko gets Rs.2 per tin. Every day he makes 7-8 trips to the roadside kiosks and manages to earn around Rs.30.
Khalko's story reads like a '50s Bollywood film script. When he was 24, he was selected as a constable for Bihar Police. During his training he contacted chicken pox because of which he lost his vision. As a result, he lost his job.
A man of great dignity, Khalko doesn't like depending on anyone. And he's quite apprehensive of talking about his disability.
'My problem cannot bog me down. I never felt disabled after I lost my vision. Life is meant to be lived and I try to live by working hard,' he says without a trace of self-pity.
Due to lack of funds he couldn't afford to get treatment. Many people tried to offer him money to help him out, but he refused donations.
'What I earn is enough to meet my requirements and I am content. I have no grudges against anyone or with god,' he adds with a smile.
Khalko lives in the Harmu housing colony with his sister. He didn't marry because he didn't want to be a burden on his wife.
The shopkeepers he ferries water for have a great deal of respect for him.
'Khalko is a man of great dignity. He is not a man to live on others' mercy,' said Mohan Mahto, who owns a small kiosk.
No one can deny the fact.
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