Keonjhar: The government spends crores of rupees for preservation and protection of important historical monuments but many such places have been wallowing in neglect in this resources-rich district due to government apathy.
A case in point is an Ashram set up by noted freedom fighter as well as leader of the Bhoodan Movement, Ramadevi.
Established in 1957 at Kantiapada under Patana block, the Kasturba Grama Seva Kendra is now in a state of dilapidation.
Wild bushes are all over its campus while, a huge dry tree is threatening to crash any time on the decrepit building.
“We have urged the forest department to cut down the tree, but nothing is being done in this direction,” said Satyabhama Sahu, an auxiliary nursing midwife, who is in-charge of the Ashram.
Locals are of the view that the 60-year-old structure will crumble to ruins if no step is taken for its restoration.
According to staff of the Ashram, many such Ashrams used to function in Sambalpur, Puri, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur and Cuttack. Headquartered at Cuttack, the organisation used to take up activities for development and education of women and children, apart from providing much-needed help to drug and alcohol addicts to wean away their habits.
Besides, Balwadi education was one of its major activities.
Sixty years ago, women’s education was not given emphasis. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Ramadevi laid stress on education of women and promotion of khadi.
She also worked for rural development, healthcare of women and environmental protection.
It is a pity that the organisation, which had once made remarkable contribution towards socio-economic development of disadvantaged and backward sections of society, is lying in a deplorable state.
Some patches of land had been donated to the Ashram so that it could maintain its daily expenses with income generated from the land. Now, the Ashram is managed with meagre income from the land.
Despite its miserable condition, the Ashram has been rendering Anganwadi and healthcare services. PNN
