Malkangiri: Scores of undernourished tribal children of a village here can bring further embarrassment for the state government while the malnutrition deaths in Nagada, a tribal hamlet of Jajpur district, are yet to be forgotten, according to reports.
Over 40 kids of Majurulendi, a tribal village four km from Kudumulugumma block headquarters, have never seen nutritional cooked food. Most of them suffer from malnutrition, worm and other water-borne diseases. The skeletal physic and swollen belly of children narrates the pitiable state of affairs of the village which even doesn’t have an Anganwadi centre, a report said.
According to villagers, 34 families of Kondh community migrated from the cutoff region of Chitrakonda block to settle down in the forest here about 40 years back. The residents have been battling with a wide range of troubles ever since, they said.
One of the major problems of the village is drinking water. Though a tube well had been drilled about 15 years back, it doesn’t function due to shallowness, it was learnt.
Left with no options, people use a nearby stream for drinking purpose. However, they also use the same water for bathing and give bath to farm animals, villagers said. At present they use the water of a nearby pit for all purposes as the stream has dried up, they added.
Several children of the village suffer from skin and stomach ailments by using the infected water of the pit, it was learnt. The kids who were seen suffering from various diseases include Satya Khil, son of Phulmati Khil, Sanjay Khara, son of Tulasi Khara, Aminath Khara, daughter of Phulmati Khara.
Though the tribals have been living in the forest for the last four decades, 14 families are yet to get forest land pattas, alleged village head Lachhman Khara, ward member Rupa Khil and many others. Similarly, a physically challenged elderly woman Kamala Khara is yet to get a pension, the ward member said.
Villagers, who live often in darkness, don’t know how government departments like agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry function for the welfare of the people.
When contacted, Kudumulugumma BDO Uttam Kumar Bagh said he was unaware of the problems.
However, he assured he will ensure that villagers avail government benefits and proper road to the area. PNN
