Kaliapani: The administration’s tall claims of bringing in all-round development of malnutrition-hit Nagada villages in Sukinda valley were not borne out by ground realities with Juang tribals migrating to other states in search of work.
The matter came to light when some villagers of upper, middle and lower Nagada villages were found waiting for a vehicle at an ATM Square in Kaliapani to leave for another state with a labour agent
Some of the villagers were identified as Manguli Padhan, Krupa Padhan, Sikar Padhan, Hari Padhan, Raju Padhan, Sania Padhan, Kanda Padhan, Binu Padhan, Ganapati Padhan, Bhadra Padhan and Kalia Padhan of these three villages. 
When questioned, Manguli and Krupa said they are being forced to leave their villages after the forest department stopped them from carrying out cultivation on forest lands.
Moreover, the contractor does not pay them wages under MGNREGS. Earlier, a Juang woman had complained to a woman political leader of not getting her wages for MGNREGS work.
Sources said the Centre and the state government took up the task of putting the hilltop villages on the development map after 21 kids here died of malnutrition and anemic problems in 2016.
The deaths of 21 kids due to malnutrition brought a bad name to the state for which crores of rupees were sanctioned to bring in development here.
Nagada is a cluster of villages comprising Upper Nagada, Middle Nagada, Lower Nagada, Guhisal, Tumuni under Chingudipai panchayat of Sukinda block in Jajpur district. The villagers comprising primitive Junag tribals live a life of deprivation and neglect far away from development. The state government constituted a taskforce to free the area from malnutrition problems. It also took steps so that no one falls prey to malnutrition and anemic problems.
It started providing them with livelihood opportunities through MGNREGS projects, goat farming and taught them vegetable and mushroom cultivations. A road was laid to the villages which earlier lacked one while Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana was implemented to provide houses to the tribals. Drinking water, power connections and plantation progrrames were taken up to give a facelift to these villages which had remained cut-off from the rest of the world.
The revenue divisional commissioner (Central) visited Nagada villages recently and expressed displeasure over the pace of implementation of developmental projects. The Juangs continue to remain jobless despite presence of nine mines in the region. When contacted, BDO Sailendra Jena did not reply on the number of Juang tribal employed under MGNREGS projects.
Secretary Dillip Kumar Mohanta of Sukinda Swabhiman Manch demanded that the tribals be given employment.
PNN
