Post News Network
Telkoi, Oct 18: The government’s claim of according priority on rural development seems to be hollow if the sorry state in many areas of this tribal-dominated block in Keonjhar district is taken into account.
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A case in point is Aluni village. Home to 72 tribal families, the village lacks road connectivity and several other basic facilities.
In the absence of a proper road to the village, the residents have to face a harrowing experience when they need emergency service like healthcare. As vehicles cannot enter the village, residents have to carry patients on cots for 5 km to the nearest motorable road. In rainy season, the problems compound for the residents.
Villagers said, “The situation is horrible. We have no way out, but to carry patients on cots for 5 km and then wait for ambulance to arrive.”
According to reports, ward member Raghu Hembram was seriously wounded recently when hot water fell on him while cooking in his house. His family members contacted a 108 ambulance service, but the vehicle got stranded at Karamanga Chhak, 5 km away from the village. Family members with help of some villagers had to carry him on a cot to Karamanga Chhak where the ambulance was waiting. From there, the patient was taken to Telkoi hospital.
Ramesh Hansda, a resident, said, “Neighbouring villages like Bijapur and Karadamni have road connectivity to the block headquarters, but our village lacks it.” “People have to walk to the panchayat office to get PDS provisions. In rainy season, venturing out of the houses is a difficult proposition,” he added. As hospitals remain out of bounds for the tribals, they have to seek treatment of quacks, Hansda said.
Though the villagers have urged the MLA and sarpanch to make provision of road connectivity, nothing has been done in this regard, alleged Mohan Hembram, another resident.
Over 30 children are derived of studies for lack of road, he said.
