Malkangiri: The Centre’s much-hyped Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan programme for universal education has come a cropper for tribals of Malkangiri district.
A case in point is Khalguda village in Khairput block which doesn’t have a government-run school.
In such a situation, a voluntary outfit ‘Ashakiran’ from Lamtaput block in Koraput district has stepped in to educate the children with its own funds by appointing two teachers.
‘Ashakiran’ collects a nominal fee of Rs 10 per month from guardians with which it buys slates, chalk sticks and stationery for the children.
What’s shocking is that there is no progress in construction of a school building the foundation stone for which was laid in the village six years ago, if villagers are to be believed.
Ramachandra Sisa and Sunandhar Guhari alleged no teacher has ever visited the village to teach the children.
Villagers Chandra Muduli and Kamalu Sisa said the administrative officials are dead scared to visit their village in view of Maoist threat.
The village, with a population of 290, situated at a foothill in Andrhal panchayat, has 63 families comprising primitive Bonda and Didayi tribes.
Ashakiran’s noble gesture has come in for a lot of praise from the villagers but they have flayed the administrative officials for being indifferent to their problems.
The villagers said they do not know whether the Maoists are creating problems for development in the district but they (villagers) continue to live a life of neglect and deprivation in the absence of any means.
The Centre and state are spending crores of rupees for the development of their community but a road is yet to be laid to the village to connect it with Lamptaput Hospital, about 8 km from their place, or with Khairput block office or Andrahal panchayat office.
As a result, they have to carry serious patients and pregnant women on cots on a forested road for over 20 km to reach Lamtaput Hospital in Koraput. They have to cross a river and then walk for over 20 km to reach the hospital or Khairput block office, Sisa and Guhari said.
The villagers find it hard to believe that the ultras are opposing developmental work in Malkangiri district.
Jadiguda village on the fringes of Malkangiri in Andhra Pradesh is just half km from their place and can be reached by crossing a river.
There the Andhra Pradesh government has provided all necessary amenities to the villagers by constructing a good road, school, hospital and drinking water facilities. The villagers questioned that if the Maoists do not oppose developmental works in Jadiguda, then the claim of opposing the same in their village is baseless.
Prasant Kumar Mohapatra, district education officer, said he will conduct a probe and take steps in this regard. Manas Kumar Jena, district project coordinator of Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan, said he will conduct a probe as to why the school building has not been completed and will take action in this direction. PNN
