Dasamantapur: The government’s tall claims of addressing basic issues of tribals seem to have fallen flat in several villages of this block in Koraput district.
A case in point is Ambaguda village of Duarshuni panchayat of this block where not even a single child has ever been vaccinated for polio, a report said.
About 45 tribal families live in this hamlet with a population of 225. While no government official has ever visited the hamlet which is surrounded by hills from all sides, the villagers have never got an opportunity to learn about government schemes like ICDS and other programmes on health, education and electricity.
Though there are more than 50 kids in the village who should be in the schools, they are sitting at homes in the absence of a teaching facility in the vicinity.
Some school buildings have been constructed in the area where no students are at sight. In such schools, the officials concerned show the student strength in pen and paper to embezzle funds, villagers alleged.
When asked about healthcare services, the villagers said they have never seen any health official in the area. The residents take care of themselves when it comes to childbirth.
While no one recognises the auxiliary nurse midwife appointed in the village, often people succumb to diseases as they don’t have access to medicines, it was learnt.
As regards electricity connection, monthly bills are raised in the names of villagers though they actually don’t enjoy power connectivity.
However, some utility poles are installed in the village and meter boxes have been installed in some houses. But electricity wires are yet to be drawn in the village. It is baffling as to how the department raises bills without providing power connection to houses, said Joy Jani, Ram Muduli, Chandra Chalan and several others of the village.
The villagers have threatened to resort to drastic measures if the administration keeps neglecting them. When contacted, BDO Sukanta Majhi assured this correspondent that he would pay a visit to the village to take stock of situation. PNN
