Nuapada: Even as the government has launched several schemes and pumps in crores of rupees for pregnant women and children, many tribal and rural villages are yet to reap the benefits.
Thanks to the irresponsibility and corrupt nature of the officials concerned, the villages are deprived of immunisation and health check-ups throughout the year. There are many villages where government officials have not even stepped in till date.
In case is the condition of Kodobhata village under Darlipada gram panchayat of Nuapada district. With a population of around 185 people, the village houses around 50 families. Among them, as many as 36 children are in the age group of 6 and 14 years. However, the government schemes like Mission Indradhanush and Mamata Yojana have failed to reach the children in the village.
As per reports, pregnant women and children of the village have been deprived of immunisation for the last three years.
As a result, at least five pregnant women have had miscarriages in the last three years. They have been identified as Rebati Majhi (30), Dal Majhi (28), Subhakanti Majhi, Nabina Majhi (30) and Yukti Majhi (32).
Rebati recalls that she had her miscarriage in the ninth month of pregnancy in 2015. Due to excess bleeding, her condition has been deteriorating that has impacted her health. This has made her weak and fragile. Such miscarriages also affect their second pregnancies, reports said.
Similarly, Dal had miscarriage in her eigth month of pregnancy, Subhakanti in her seventh month, Nabina in her ninth month and Yukti had her miscarriage in seventh month of pregnancy.
Though such reports are repeating, not even a single government official has set his foot in the village, Nabina’s husband Kailash Majhi alleged.
A mini-anganwadi centre was constructed earlier to provide immunisation to pregnant mothers. Instead of appointing an Anganwadi worker from the village, a woman of a neighbouring village was posted.
This created furore in the village who claimed of irregularity in the posting and promised not to depend on the Anganwadi centre at any cost.
Every Wednesday and Friday, an immunisation camp is held in every panchayat. However, the women and children of the village have not been provided with immunisation for the last three years.
When contacted, chief district medical officer (CDMO) Jagdish Mahanand said that he was unaware of the plight in the village. He assured to take steps after a probe. PNN
