Rayagada (Gajapati): “Forget about development. No one has ever come to ask us, ‘how are you all?” This was how an elderly woman spoke of the abject neglect from the local administration towards the plight of the residents of Madhiakhol village under Gangabad panchayat of Rayagada block in Gajapati district.
The village is situated on the Andhra Pradesh-Orissa border. Taking advantage of the neglect of the area by local administration, Andhra Pradesh officials are trying to slowly acquire rights on the village and the people. After media reports about AP’s move appeared, the district administration woke up from its slumber. A few days back, district collector Anup Saha visited the village. He had directed the block officials to start development works. Soon after, Raigarh BDO Nrusingh Charan Sethy also visited the village and assured villagers of safe drinking water facility.
The sudden visit of the officials gave some hope of development to the villagers. Little did they know that the assurances of the officials would remain in pen and paper. No sooner than media alerts came, the officials have once again opted to remain silent it seems, as no development work has started yet.
Located just 80km away from Sadar headquarters, the village is home to 12 tribal families. Comprising 38 persons, there are 20 women, 18 men and eight minor kids. Forest produce is their only source of food while they eke out a living by doing odd jobs.
Being deprived of a concrete road, the village is alien to education, health facilities, proper drinking water and communication. Taking advantage, the Andhra government has provided Voter ID cards and solar lights to the people.
The electricity supply provided by the government hardly remains steady for half a month and then there would be disruptions, the locals said.
The children of the village are suffering from various diseases due to the intake of bad quality drinking water. When contacted, the BDO said that steps were being taken to provide piped drinking water to all the border villages.
