Rayagada: Despite government’s tall claims of launching various programmes for the Dongria kondhs, residents living on the top of Niyamgiri hill are still leading deplorable lives, a report said.
The tribals often survive on meat of wild animals as the ration supplied by the government doesn’t last a month, it was learnt.
Badadwargudi and Sanadwargudi are two such villages on the top of the hill of Daliakuji panchayat under Bissamkatak block in Rayagada district which are missing the development radar of the government.
More than 50 Dongria families live in these two villages. This correspondent had to trek nearly 10 km in a hilly terrain to reach inaccessible Sanadwargudi village.
Most of the residents in the village were found suffering from various diseases. Despite suffering from fever, stomach pain and other diseases, they were not in a position to come down and consult doctors. The administration seems to have forgotten the plight of the tribals as no healthcare facility is offered to the hill-top residents.
The condition of people in Badadwaragudi was even worse. Government officials are not seen even once in a year, alleged the residents. While people continue to battle hunger throughout the year, no one ever raises the issue of education. A building which was known as a school years back now resembles a ghost house surrounded by wild growths. The slogan of ‘education for all’ seems to have lost in the cave of Niyamgiri hill.
Daliakuji panchayat office to which the villagers go to collect their monthly rice quota is about 10 km from the village. The residents have to depend on meat of wild animals for their survival once the rice supplied by the panchayat office gets exhausted. This apart, many have to satiate their hunger by eating wild roots not fit for human consumption. People often die suffering from diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases.
When asked, Bissamkatak MLA Jagannath Saraka admitted to the existing problems in the area. The problem is yet to be solved as the tribals are opposed to building of a pucca road on Niyamgiri hill, explained the MLA.
Block development officer Albert Lakra said he has recently taken charge and will look into the matter.
PNN
