Odisha legislator Manohar Randhari has earned the praise of Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu for tilling his own agriculture land and sowing paddy, setting an example for youths.

A BJD lawmaker from Dabugam in the backward Nabarangpur district, Randhari has been working tirelessly in his fields and transplanting paddy saplings amid the monsoon showers. His efforts have drawn the attention and praise of the Vice-President who called his work inspiring.

“It’s inspiring. According to him, the youth should not feel ashamed or feel any kind of hesitation while working in the agricultural field,” Naidu tweeted, appreciating Randhari’s toil.

Randhari walks to the field carrying the plough Telegraph picture

Randhari, 45, told The Telegraph, “I am quite elated after receiving praise from the Vice-President. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has also appreciated my role as a farmer. It’s the farmer who feeds people. I think we all should take up agricultural activities apart from our professional work. One can work as a farmer and be something else at the same time. One needs to be present his fields during the monsoon rains to plough the land and to undertake activities like paddy cutting at the time of harvesting. Other professional work can be taken care of through one’s representatives.”

Patnaik tweeted, “Appreciate Party MLA Manohar Randhari for leading by example with his commitment to agriculture and taking pride for his work in the agriculture field.”

In view of the lockdown and shortage of labour, Randhari decided to devote 6 to 8 hours daily in his fields. “Earlier my father Damburu Randhari used to take care of agricultural activities. I used to assist him.

Randhari walks to the field carrying the shovel Telegraph picture

“After my father passed away last year, I decided to involve myself more in agricultural work. The restrictions imposed due to the corona pandemic have given me time to dedicate myself to agriculture in a much better manner,” the MLA said.

Hailing from the tribal community, Randhari, a three-time MLA, tills 25 acres of agricultural land spread in four villages — Pujaripada, Sindriguda, Keshariguda and Bhatigam — in Nabarangpur block.

While 20 acres are owned by him, another five acres has been taken by him for cultivation on sharecropping basis. “People say agriculture is not profitable. I want to change that notion. With the use of right kind of technology and the right kind of manure, agriculture can be made profitable. We cultivate paddy and corn and earn around Rs 10 lakh in a year. We also grow vegetables. We don’t have to buy rice. Thanks to what I grow in the fields, I am able to feed rice and dalma (dal mixed with vegetables) to around 100 people in my house daily,” he said.

Randhari, whose sister Padmini Dian, is a minister in the state government, said, “Even my sister and her husband, a constable in Odisha police, engage in farming in their area . Earlier there was Maoist disturbance in the district but successful implementation of socio-economic projects have changed the situation. The Maoists are no longer active in the area and people can work in their fields fearlessly. As a result farming has started paying good dividends.”

Randhari, who plunged into politics on the call of Patnaik, earlier worked as a senior clerk in a state government office.

He quit the job in 2009 and contested the Assembly election on a BJD ticket. He has never been defeated.

He also undertakes social work, helping the poor and distributing books among needy students.