Nuapada/Khariar: Pomma Tudu, the lady collector of Nuapada district, Wednesday trekked four km-long isolated hilly terrain to reach Samadapadar, a tribal village of Ranimunda panchayat to understand difficulties of the people.
Three years ago then collector V Jaykumar visited the village, located at a height of 2,000 meter from sea level and 75 km from the district headquarters, to know the ground reality. However, that didn’t bring significant changes in the standard of living of the residents, a report said.
The visit of Tudu with a lathi in her hand and a cloth tied to the waist generated hope among villagers.
According to reports, the collector reached Mahulpadar from Khariar in a car and then covered the steep hilly road on foot in the absence of motorable connectivity.
The tribal residents were taken aback with the arrival of the collector in the village. Tudu visited door to door and spoke to people across all ages. She also learnt about the lifestyle and problems of people.
The village is yet to be connected with a proper road even so many years after Independence and villagers bring provisions on the back of bullocks. While electricity connection to the hamlet is a distant dream, people use stream water for all purposes, the tribals told the collector.
Promising solution to their difficulties, Tudu asked PD-DRDA Brushav Chandra Nayak, BDO Anil Patnaik and other officials who accompanied her, to note down the issues.
On the other hand some tribal youths alleged such visits by top government officials hardly made any difference to the condition of people.
Two weeks ago some people of Samadapadar village came to the grievance cell of the collector and apprised her of their problems. Realising the plight of people, the collector decided to pay a visit to the region personally.
The courageous move by a women collector to trek the steep isolated stretch came for all round appreciation. PNN
