Telkoi: Contrary to the government’s claim on development agenda, people belonging to the primitive Juanga tribe have reportedly been leading miserable lives in Sunduria village under Telkoi block of Keonjhar district.
The village is 5km away from Karmangi panchayat. Sunduria has no indices that indicate its development: road connectivity, education, drinking water, lighting, housing and healthcare despite the fact that both the state and Central governments spend crores of rupees on rural development through multiple schemes.
Education and healthcare are out of the villagers’ reach for generations. As a result, all their children are illiterate.
The village doesn’t have a pucca road. A foot track is the only way to commute. In the rainy season, the residents can’t venture out of the village. As healthcare is out of bounds, the residents resort to superstitious practices like branding and sorcery.
They eke out their living by selling minor forest produce and daily waging.
Safe drinking water is a dream for them. “We depend on streams or use water from pits on a daily basis,” Hadu Juanga and Shankar Juanga said. The absence of electricity adds to their woes.
Most of the families live in dilapidated houses while benefits of housing schemes like Indira Awas Yojana and Mo Kudia Yojana continue to elude them.
The residents said they have drawn the attention of the local people’s representatives and the MLA to their problems.
Sarpanch Ranjita Nayak said steps have been taken to lay a road and set up a tube well in the village.
