SAMBALPUR: Padma Shri awardee and legendary Sambalpuri folk singer Jitendra Haripal was sanctioned a house on Friday under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) 2.0, providing much-needed relief to the veteran artist whose deteriorating ancestral home and living conditions had drawn attention.

Sambalpur collector Siddheshwar Baliram Bondar presented the work order to Haripal at his office. The folk icon, renowned for the timeless ‘Rangabati’, had previously appealed to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for help in constructing a permanent residence.

Haripal has been granted financial assistance of Rs 2.5 lakh for the house’s construction. The district administration assured that all necessary support would be provided to ensure the dwelling unit is completed within the designated timeframe.

The collector noted that the sanction was approved for a plot of land adjacent to Haripal’s old house, which was transferred to his name following the passing of his wife earlier this year.

Haripal’s aging four-room mud house in Stationpada, which has witnessed his extensive musical journey, partially collapsed during the Covid pandemic. The house’s condition came under scrutiny again after heavy rains in July last year caused further damage, prompting the veteran singer to renew his request for government assistance.

Previously, Haripal was ineligible for housing benefits under government schemes because his ancestral house was situated on government land. He and his family have since been residing in a rented house at Jagannath Colony, while the Stationpada house remains in a state of disrepair.

As one of Odisha’s most celebrated folk artists, Haripal is synonymous with ‘Rangabati’, the iconic Sambalpuri song that has transcended generations and geographical boundaries.