Agartala, Jun 24 (UNI) Tripura crowned superheroes of the state, Swapan Debbarma and his 9 years old girl Sumati who saved Dharmanagar – Agartala passenger train with 2000 people last week from major accident have been rewarded by different organisations and individuals in last three days.
The poor tribal man faced problem with the cheque he has been receiving as reward of his bravery and presence of mind to avert the accident. Despite massive campaign of Jandhan Yojana over past two years, the poor family did not get the benefit of financial inclusion not even got documents like electoral card and Aadhar card yet.
Swapan did not thought even the wheel of his life turned reverse on the day after he and his daughter able to stop the train before it got derailed. His daily income was hardly touched three digits in his life time. Swapan is the sole bread earner of his eight members’ family including his parents and four children. Collection of bamboo shoots and other non-timber forest produces like edible leaves, bark, root; shoot and aquatic animal were his main source of income.
“I have been rewarded more than Rs 50,000 in cash and plenty of dresses, sweets and plaques of recitation for me and my family. The full family is having delicious dishes in the city, none of these we ever had tested. But my parents are missing these treatment and food. I got cheque of more than Rs 3 lakh from various institutions and individuals but do not know how to encash them,” Swapan told UNI here today.
They never thought that they would be showered with bounties, ministers will have lunch with them, they will be felicitated in the assembly, they will be screened in premier television shows and all prestigious services would be accorded on them.
Swapan along with his three children and wife attended in public reception last evening organised by Agartala-based best career counseling and coaching Institution School of Science where tear came out from the eyes of many the dignitaries and citizens attended the functions when the story of his life was depicted in presence of them, said Abhijeet Bhattacharjee, the organiser – renowned educationist of the state.
“I am overwhelmed with the response of the common people of the state for responding to the appeal for Swapan Debbarma. We proposed the government to change the name of Agartala Railway Station after his name to keep his contribution immemorial. We have taken initiative to get all his important documents done and open a bank account soon,” he added.
Bhattacharjee rued, there were 2000 passengers in the train, which was saved by Swapan and Sumati but over the week none of the passengers except the loco pilot Sonu Kumar came out to pay respect to their life savers, “The people who have already felicitated them none was the boarder of that train, I feel this is the real crisis of humanity today. This doesn’t go by poor or rich, tribal or non-tribal, Hindu or Muslim, village or town and educated or uneducated. I am pained really.”
He proposed a chapter in social science be included in school text book on what Swapan Debbarma has done as an example of courage and selfless service in public interest. On June 15 last, due to heavy rain soil under railway track in Dhancherra between Mungiakami and Ambassa railway station was washed away.
This was noticed by Swapan Debbarma while crossing the track with his daughter in the morning when he went out for collection of bamboo shoots from the forest. Entire day they spent on the railway line because there was no track inspection staff but Swapan was aware if he left the place without informing the bad shape of track, there will be a devastating accident.
At last after when he heard whistle blow of a train coming from Ambassa – Swapan and his daughter started running towards train in mid of the track with his daughter waving a piece of cloth he was wearing, which forced the loco pilot to stop the train and got to know the situation.
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