Tumudibandh: Days after OrissaPOST published an article about four inaccessible villages of this block in Kandhamal district being deprived of government facilities, a team of block officials trekked to the hilltop villages for the first time Sunday.
The officials carrying walking sticks were seen trekking through forests and streams to reach the villages. In its first ever development programme, the villages will get electricity under a government scheme.
Tumudibandh BDO Basant Kumar Sethy, Social Welfare Extension Officer (WEO) Manoj Kumar Sahu, Panchayat Extension Officer (PEO) Suprabha Sahu, Supply Officer Kabiraj, Junior Engineer B. Lingaraj Patra and Subhashree Biswal, Tumudibandh Sarpanch Mayanti Patmajhi and police and forest officials reached the village after hours of walking through forests.
The happiness of the locals were reflected on their faces as the never expected officials showed up in the villages. Locals were more than happy to get electricity in their villages after 71 years of Independence.
The officials first reached Nilingapadam village and held a discussion on existing problems. Later, they walked to the neighbouring village Balam where locals brought various problems including availability of ration supply, pension, job cards and Aadhaar cards to their attention.
They also demanded a concrete road and drinking water supply to the village. Village head Indramutha Majhi requested the officials to build a dam in the village. The officials also visited the local school.
After listening to the pleas of locals, the BDO assured immediate steps to take up development projects in the villages. He promised to prepare a report and submit it to the Collector. PNN
