Jajpur: Even as malnutrition deaths of at least 22 kids in hilltop Nagada village in the district will complete a year after a month, many projects implemented by the state government to bring in development in the area is only halfway through or yet to see the light of the day.
Deaths of over 22 kids due to malnutrition hogged national and international headlines. A shocked state government displayed promptitude and announced a slew of projects for the hilltop village under Sukinda block in this district.
However, the past promptitude does not match the pace of work on the project as Nagada still remains neglected and mired in obscurity. The state government’s plan to usher in development in the area does seem to work.
Waking up to the tardy pace of work, the food secretary advised the district administration to be more pro-active. Member secretary of the department Rajashree Mohanty directed the district administration in this regard.
The food secretary visited Nagada thrice between December and April and discussed implementation of projects.
He last visited Nagada April 28 and reviewed the construction of check dam near lower and middle Nagada. However, the pace of projects, especially the one implemented by the health and family welfare department, was disappointing.
The Maa Gruha Yojana for pregnant women has remained a non-starter due to lack of awareness among villagers. Anganwadi and ASHA workers, who could have played a big role in making tribal villagers aware of adopting the scheme have not done enough in this regard.
Construction of a school building, power supply, payment of wages to MGNREGS workers and projects under Orissa Livelihood Mission are halfway through.
Distribution of iron-folic acid (IFA) and albendazole tablets is limited to kids and is not available to pregnant women. The food secretary stressed its distribution among those aged between five and 19 and IFA syrups to kids between three and five.
He also expressed displeasure on the schemes implemented by the women and child development department and sought serving cooked food to kids and expectant mothers from Anganwadis of Tumuni and Upper Nagada villages.
He also found the pace of progress of drinking water projects slow while his earlier order of supplying water through tankers is yet to be realised.
He found the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana as a misnomer as not a single beneficiary has been included under the scheme. The plan outlay of Rs 50,000 under MGNREGS scheme and Mo Guhala Yojana are similarly non-starter.
The distribution of ration cards and Aadhaar cards to over 116 families and PHH ration cards to 97 families is yet to be completed. He advised the collector and sectional heads to expedite the projects.
When contacted, project director Braja Gopal Acharya of DRDA said various sections have been directed to expedite the work and the projects will be completed soon. PNN