The district administration has now decided to honour and support Nayak's efforts by paying him under the MGNREGS scheme.
"I am overwhelmed with Nayak's effort and determination to cut mountains to build a road. He will be paid under MGNREGS scheme for all the days he has worked," Brunda D told reporters yesterday.
Much like Bihar's 'mountain man' Dasrath Manjhi, who has spent 22 years of his life to build a 360-feet road, Nayak, with his steely resolve, has carved out an 8-km-long stretch through hillocks in two years and plans to extend it by another 7 km in the next three years.
Nayak's efforts went largely unnoticed until yesterday when the collector invited him to her office, having read reports about him in a local newspaper.
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The collector offered him financial support and directed the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Phulbani to engage labourers and complete the road construction work.
Interestingly, Nayak and his family are the only residents of the village. Others have left Gumisahi long ago owing to lack of proper road and essential facilities.
He thanked the district administration for recognising his efforts.
"The district collector has assured me to complete the construction of the road to my village," Nayak said.
The collector said they are planning to felicitate Nayak for his determination and hard work during the Kandhamal Utsav.
"We are thinking of felicitating Jalandhar Nayak during the Kandhamal Utsav for his strong determination to construct a road in this remote part of the state," she said.