Baliguda: Gifted with ample scenic beauty, a panoramic view of lush and rolling hills, the tribal-dominated Kandhamal district is considered a tourist paradise. Tribals here till today depend on forest and nature for food.
Crores of rupees are spent for the development of rural and tribal pockets with the sole aim of improving the socio-economic conditions of the underprivileged. However, there are regions which have not seen an electric light in their entire life. While Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had promised to electrify every village by 2020, no government official has ever visited these regions.
For example, Khamandkhol panchayat under Baliguda block. The panchayat comprises 11 wards with four wards (1, 9, 10 and 11) inhabited by tribals and backward classes.
At least 15 villages coming under these four wards are cut off from the rest of the world owing to a river (Kharagh) flowing through the area. The tribals here live a life of neglect, due to lack of basic facilities. They have not known electric power, nor its use in daily life for generations now.
With no road connectivity, basic education and ambulance services, Anganwadi service is a distant dream for the tribals. They have to walk 20km to and from the panchayat for their daily essentials.
They have to cross the river to reach the panchayat and block office. The situation worsens in the rainy season. During emergency, locals have to swim the river, risking their lives. It’s not unusual tribals drowning in the river during the monsoon. Many have lost their lives, reports said.
On several occasions, pregnant women, elderly persons and children have to be carried on sling to the local hospital. Children are forced to tend cattle.
“It seems we are cursed not to get our basic rights,” said former sarpanch Santosh Singh Patra. Parmeswar Kanhar, expressing grief, said: “We have brought the matter to the notice of every official possible, but to no avail.”
The locals demanded construction of a bridge over the river and a concrete road to the isolated villages. When contacted, Baliguda BDO said that he was aware of these issues and had brought them to the notice of the district collector. “Necessary steps will be taken on the orders of the collector,” the BDO added. PNN