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Bhubaneswar, July 21: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday said the government would go all out to prevent the recurrence of incidents such as the death of 19 children because of malnutrition in Nagada village in Jajpur district.
“The state government has formed a task force to go thoroughly into the entire issue and to see that such incidents do not recur,” he said here.
Meanwhile, the state unit of the BJP has submitted a memorandum to Governor SC Jamir seeking his intervention in the issue. A delegation led by party president Basant Panda apprised the Governor about the alarming situation in the village and the adjoining areas.
“The death of the children because of malnutrition shows the failure of the state machinery to provide basic amenities to the people in the area. It has also exposed the tall claim of the BJD that the government is working for the development of the state,” said Panda. The BJP leader said Jamir has assured the party that steps would be taken to deal with the situation.
Senior Congress leader and opposition chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati also criticised the BJD government for failing to provide basic amenities to the village even after ruling for more than 16 years.
“The minister of the department concerned has also admitted that government schemes have failed to reach the remote tribal village. It is very unfortunate that we have a government that has failed to ensure basic facilities for our people,” Bahinipati said.
There are hundreds of such villages in the state, he alleged.
Expelled BJD leader and former local MLA Prafulla Ghadai took the responsibility for the alarming situation. “Starting from the local sarpanch and BDO to the district and state administration, everyone (including me) is responsible for the unfortunate incident. They should seek unconditional apology from the people for this incident,” Ghadai said.