Bargarh: Panimora, a sleepy village in Sohela block, just 37 km from this town, has earned a place in the annals of history for the sacrifice of some villagers during the freedom struggle.
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology of non-violence, 32 people of this village had joined the Quit India Movement. Most of them were put in jail at that time.
Though the countrymen enjoyed the fruits of their struggle and that of countless others, the village continues to remain neglected.
Failing to fulfill their bare necessities, many people of this village, which is plagued by a host of problems, have left for other states to work as bonded labourers, a report said.
Panimora is still deprived of basic amenities like healthcare, education and sanitation. The village has a school but it doesn’t have adequate classrooms and teachers. More than 130 students are accommodated in two classrooms and are taught by only four teachers.
A college for vocational training has been closed a long back, while the locals’ demand for a women’s college has fallen on deaf ears.
There is a health centre in the village but it functions without doctors. A doctor visits the centre on deputation but leaves before 12 noon, it was learnt.
Most of the descendants of the freedom fighters either work as bonded labourers or migrate to other places in search of livelihood.
For instance, Debdas Sahoo, son of freedom fighter late Sunadhar Sahoo, has taken shelter in an ashram of Bargarh town, while Bikram and his family, the descendants of late Prabhakar Sahoo, had gone to work at a kiln in Cuttack.
Dayanidhi Nayak (92) and Jitendriya Pradhan (99), two survivors of the pre-Independence era, only shed tears over the miserable plight of the youths of this generation.
“We have got freedom, this is true. But most of the dreams and aspirations have so far remained unfulfilled. People still suffer from poverty and corruption is on the rise for which one more movement is required,” lamented Dayanidhi.
Echoing similar sentiments, Jitendriya said thanks to the power of unity that brought freedom. To get the real taste of freedom everyone should get united again which is the need of the hour, he said.
Deshabandhu Pradhan, a successor of a freedom fighter said the village is popular for its connection with the Quit India Movement. But it is unfortunate that the descendants of freedom fighters have to go outside the district to work as bonded labourers, he added. PNN