Malkangiri: Life was thrown out of gear in this district Tuesday due to a bandh called by Zilla Adivasi Samaj Mahasangh, a federation of tribal outfits, protesting the alleged failure of the government in tackling the menace Japanese Encephalitis (JE) which has claimed at least 100 lives so far.
While vehicles remained off roads, educational institutions and commercial establishments were found closed in support of the bandh, a report said.
Apart from the district headquarters town, the impact of bandh was also felt in several blocks including Korukonda, Kalimela, Mathili, Kudumulugumma, Padia and Khairaput.
The members of the federation led by its president Ghanashyam Madkami picketed at several places of Malkangiri town and blocked roads. He alleged that though the disease broke out in Potrel village of the district in 2011, neither the state nor the Centre took any initiative to contain its spread which led to death of more than a hundred kids in the district within a span of two months.
The outfit demanded that the prevailing situation be declared a national calamity and `10 lakh compensation be paid to the family of each child who died of JE. The outfit also demanded immunization programme in 108 panchayats of the district.
The outfit would take out a massive rally Wednesday to protest the alleged indifference of the state government over the issue, it was learnt. The bandh supporters have planned to gherao the collector’s office here Wednesday as a mark of protest.
The disease has spread in villages under six of the seven blocks in the district.
1 more kid dies
Malkangiri: Yet another child suffering from the dreaded JE died at the district headquarters hospital here Tuesday, taking the toll to 101. Official sources, however, put the number at 84. The deceased was identified as Laxmi Ugal, a one-and-half-year girl of Gorekhpallil under Padia block. At present 33 children are undergoing treatment at the DHH and five of them have been kept at the ICU. PNN
