Bolagarh: While a horde of schemes have been introduced by both Union and State governments for the overall development and welfare of poor, tribal people and rural areas, lack of implementation and proper monitoring have led the schemes haywire, it was alleged.
The condition of 42 tribal families living on hilly terrain of Krushnapur in Sargaon panchayat under Bolagarh block in Khurda district is beyond imagination sans basic amenities like road and drinking water.
Even as the inhabitants here belong to Saar and Sabar community, they are deprived to get caste certificate, it was alleged. Due to the land related problems, they left their ancestral Jaripada village and resettled two kilometers away at the hilly terrain 20 years ago.
Though situated 70 kilometres away from the state capital, shadow of administration reluctance looms large over the village which is considered as a backward area.
As water of a bore well near Goja hill contains iron and fluoride, the tribal families living here dug a well and collect water for using it for drinking and other household purposes, said John Nayak, a local resident.
At least 18 tribal families are residing near Khura hilltop which is located just half kilometers away from Goja hill, it was learnt.
While nine tribal families live near Patabandha irrigation project, eight families reside at nearby Sangadia Sahi. While the place lacks drinking water facility and proper road connectivity, there is no anganwadi centre and the only primary school runs without electricity connection.
In rainy season, the road becomes worse for commuters and people are compelled to rely on cots to be carried to hospital, alleged Gouranga Swain.
Because the anganwadi centre at Patabandha is situated far away from the village, children are unable to come to the anganwadi centre every day, said Muna Jena.
While people here use water after collecting it from a well, their only source of earning a living is working as daily wage labourers. Therefore, life of these tribal people has turned miserable and tough as they are reeling under unemployment and other governmental facilities. So, they have been demanding for the basic amenities since long.
Even as they had informed district administration and people’s representatives regarding the same issues, there requests seems have fallen on deaf ears.
When contacted, Bolagarh BDO Madhusudan Behera said, “We will initiate steps to provide drinking water facility and proper road connectivity to residents of Krushnapur area in the upcoming summer.”
PNN
