Bhawanipatna: Even 70 years after Independence, many remote tribal pockets in the state are still relying without basic benefits like drinking water, road, electricity, education and healthcare, thanks to the efforts of corrupt officials and people’s representatives.
Dumbhergubha, a tribal village, is one such backward place under Bhawanipatna block in Kalahandi district. The sorry state of affairs in the village has put a question mark on the efficiency of several rural development and social welfare schemes.
Till date, not even a single politician or a government official has put his foot in the village.
Many generations have perished but the village is still alien to light as people still use lamps at nights. Due to lack of electricity, no sooner it is 5 pm, the village gets dark and locals bolt themselves inside their houses in the fear of wild animals. Their only source of light is kerosene lamps.
Situated between hills and forests, there is nothing in the village that can be called a road. The residents have to trek through forests to reach the block offices for daily purposes. Similarly, with no proper drinking water, women in the village have to fetch water from a stream from the nearby mountain.
A primary school, located 2km away from the village is the only source of education. The teachers come to the school with escorts only to mark their presence felt and do not educate the children. The children are accompanied by family members to and back from school in the fear of wild animals.
Many village kids are suspected to be suffering from malnutrition. Pregnant women and children have to walk 5km to reach the local Anganwadi centre for pre-schooling, immunisation of kids and expectant mothers and nutritious food.
In cases of emergency like medical problems, the locals have to carry the patients on a sling for 7km to the nearby panchayat from where they can be taken by an ambulance. Even pensioners have to trek to the panchayat office for collecting their benefits.
The people demanded immediate steps for the development of their village. PNN
