Berhampur: The family of Naveen Swain, 39, a poor labourer in Hugulapata village 13km from here in Kukudakhandi block in Ganjam district, enjoyed their brief moment of fame when BJP president Amit Shah had food at his home on July 4 last year.

In the past few months the spotlight had shifted from Naveen only to return once again on Tuesday when Ganjam unit of the BJP Kanhu Charan Pati visited his home.

Pati met Naveen Swain and his wife Sudeshna, 29, and handed over Rs 1,00,001 (rupees one lakh and one rupee) to the couple to rebuild their house badly damaged during Phailin in 2013.

Pati on Tuesday had for company sarpanch Hugulapata Pradeep Malana and a few other local party leaders.

Last year, Shah, accompanied by other senior leaders including Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, had been to Naveen's house as part of the BJP's 'Mo booth, sabuthu majbhut' campaign.

The BJP president and his team had vegetarian food 'arua' rice, 'kandula' dal, ladies finger fry, 'saga bhaja', mixed fry of 'potala', beans and cauliflower and kheer with ruchi rice at Naveen's house.

Naveen had borrowed utensils from his neighbours to serve the guests.

"We were pleased that a national leader like Amit Shah had lunch in our house," said an emotional Naveen on Tuesday.

While the couple works as labourers, their children Krushna, 14, Sai Ram, 11, and Durga, 9, study in classes IX, VII and V, respectively, at the nearby Pakalika Utsav Vidyalaya.

The family of five lives in a small five-room house that suffered major damages during Phailin in 2013.

"I have not received any help from the state government, not even a tarpaulin since the Phailin. I applied for a house under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to the executive officer, Hugulapata panchayat, a year ago. I had also approached the block development officer of Kukudakhandi, sarpanch of Hugulapata, but all in vain," he said while asserting that he was not a BJP member.

"I feel happy to receive the financial help from the BJP to construct my house," Naveen said.

Pati said Shah had asked him to immediately hand over Rs 1 lakh to Naveen to help him reconstruct the house.

"Amit Shah came to know about Naveen's plight from Dharmendra Pradhan. We will further help Naveen once he starts construction of his house," Pati said.

"When Shah visits Hugulapata again, we hope that the Naveen's house would be ready," Pati said.

Sarpanch of Hugulapata Pradeep Malana said the beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana had registered their names in the panchayat office six months ago.

"Naveen Swain is also a beneficiary. The names would be finalised after an inquiry," the sarpanch said.