Paralakhemundi: Six tribal families in Saura Sabara village under Sabara panchayat in Gosani block of Gajapati district were forced to spend five days and nights in dilapidated houses during Cyclone Arn ab, having been deprived of government housing benefits despite repeated appeals to the authorities.
The six families, belonging to Biswanath Sabara (48), Ganapati Sabara (62), Minu Sabara (27), Ghasi Sabara (58), Bishoi Sabara (42) and Nagesh Sabara (52), comprise 25 members, including elderly people and children.
Their mud-walled houses with damaged asbestos roofs offer little protection against heavy rain. Despite covering the roofs with plastic sheets and plastering the walls with mud, rainwater continued to seep inside, leaving them struggling to find dry spaces to eat, sleep and rest.
The families said they endured severe hardship throughout the cyclone as they had no safe shelter or adequate facilities for food, drinking water and sleep. They also face similar difficulties during other natural calamities, making their vulnerability a recurring concern.
Meanwhile, the mud house of another villager, Ramesh Sabara, was completely damaged during the cyclone, while the cattle shed of Bishu Sabara also suffered damage. The six families alleged that despite repeatedly approaching the local sarpanch and the administration for houses under government housing schemes, their appeals have gone unanswered.
They further claimed that neither the sarpanch nor any government official visited them to assess their plight during the cyclone.
The incident has raised concerns over the exclusion of vulnerable tribal households from housing benefits. The affected families have urged the administration to provide immediate assistance and ensure permanent housing for them.