Keonjhar: Tribal organisations of Keonjhar district have said that many of their shrines have been left out by the Special Development Council’s (SDC) scheme to protect shrines and are facing neglect.
In Keonjhar, the SDC had identified 427 old tribal shrines and was preserving and developing them.
The government spends crores for the protection, preservation and revival of old customs, arts and shrines. The project is being executed by the SDC in the state’s tribal districts.
The tribal people here expressed displeasure at the sorry state of the shrines of Maa Ranagapata at Danlahota and Khudaposi villages in the Harichandanpur block of Keonjhar.
A few shrines are being developed in the district. It is nothing but a gimmick, they said.
Rangapata shrine is one of the oldest tribal shrines. The deity here is being worshipped under a peepal tree. Tribals have great faith in the goddess.
Prakash Nayak, a local resident, said there was no boundary wall around the shrine. Lack of drinking water is another problem. Drain water sometimes enters the area and tribal residents are unhappy over this.
The condition of the shrine at Tentalapasi is no different. The shrine was surrounded by valuable trees. They are gradually disappearing.
“Tribal shrines are important for them. They create unity among people. Development of these places is very important for tribal people as well as the environment,” said environmentalist Dr Bimbadhar Behera.
Former SDC chairperson Ramaya Munda said the shrines which were identified are being developed as funds had been sanctioned. The shrines which have been left out will be included in the development plan later, he added.
PNN