Malkangiri: Although 71-years have passed since the country became Independent, absence of proper roads in this tribal-dominated district has dealt a heavy blow to delivery of healthcare services. As of date, more than 500 villages remain out of bounds for ambulance services, a report said Monday.
While the Centre and state government announce scores of schemes and healthcare facilities for the poorer sections, they never reach these villages and the local inhabitants continue to live a life of neglect and obscurity.
According to sources, the district administration as well as the district health department has provided 14 ambulances to 111 panchayats in seven blocks to ferry the poor patients to hospitals free of cost.
This apart, the district administration has also provided 16 ambulances to the district headquarters hospital and launched ambulance facility in Chtrakonda reservoir area for the benefit of the inhabitants in the cut-off areas. However, they are hardly of any use to the residents in these remote villages, as there is any motorable road in the region.
The roads are in such bad shape that it is even impossible to tread on them. Villagers have to first clear obstacles like bush and shrubs on their route by cutting them with sharp-edged weapons and then move toward their destination.
During emergencies, villagers carry critically-ill patients and pregnant women on cots and descend the hills to reach health centres. In such instances, many patients also breathe their last even before reaching the nearest health facility. Talking about their woes, local inhabitants held the apathy of the state government and negligence of the public representatives from their area responsible for their problems.
The absence of good roads has also proved to be a stumbling block in ushering in development in these villages. Consequently, it has put healthcare services, education, trade and commerce in the region in shambles. As a result, the villages continue to lag behind in every spheres of development.
Most of these villages have remained inaccessible as they are surrounded by hills and forests. Moreover, the presence of Maoists in these villages has posed a serious challenge for the district administration to undertake road construction work in these villages.
The ultras do not want the villages to be accessible by roads for fear of losing their grip on the villagers.
Plans to undertake road construction work in these villages by the Rural Works Department, Forest Department and Panchayati Raj Department have remained confined to the drawing tables owing to the presence of the Red rebels in the area.