Patrapur: Stung by reports of prevalence of malnutrition, lack of basic education facilities, road connectivity, electricity supply and drinking water facilities in hilltop Badua village under Ankuli panchayat of this block in Ganjam district, the administration swung into action and launched an awareness camp Sunday.
On the orders of the collector, sub-collector Sidharth Shankar Swain, BDO Lalit Kumar Kanhar, tehsildar Pranati Priyadarsini Rout, CDPO Padmini Sahu, district education officer Abhiram Behera and district social welfare officer Prassana Kumar Mallick along with other block officials trekked forests and crossed many villages by foot to attend the awareness programme.
Hundreds of tribals of Burasahi, Gaida, Dhobalingi, Badua, Ankuli, Kuragarh and neighbouring villages welcomed the officials. They seemed surprised as it was the first time ever that the district officials had stepped into the village.
At the meeting, the officials emphasized mostly on malaria eradication, DAMAN (Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran) drive and immunisation programmes.
Things looked awkward for the officials after some tribals stood up in the middle of the meeting and asked them to put a pause to their speech. “We do not need speech, we need road,” they said further adding to the discomfiture.
All basic facilities would reach the village if there is a concrete road, the tribals said. Students are forced to drop out of schools due to lack of road facilities, said one of the educated tribals, Prasant Kumar Nayak. Most of the schools in the villages have been lying in a shambles since cyclone Phailin while no teachers show up.
The locals also demanded Anganwadi centres, drinking water projects and electricity supply to the isolated villages. They asked for the reconstruction of schools and resumption of classes. The officials also collected blood samples of 98 children among which 69 were tested positive for malaria. More children (173) were found down with fever.
After hearing the plights of the people, the officials assured them of taking immediate steps to provide all the basic facilities. They also distributed uniforms and sweets to children. PNN
