Keonjhar: Kabitra, a village in this district which was excluded from Keonjhargarh civic body, is not included in any panchayat as per the latest panchayat reorganisation by the state government, leading to discontent among the residents.
The villagers alleged they have all along been neglected on all fronts. They claimed that when their village is not included in any panchayat they will be stripped off exercising their franchise in the coming panchayat elections.
Though the village falls under Keonjhar block, the administration has failed to implement government programmes and schemes. Even the village has not been divided into wards.
Residents say though the village lies under Bodapalas panchayat in official records, development funds have not been utilised in the village over the years.
Works on road construction, Indira Awas Yojana, Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana and even pension schemes have not been executed. People are not provided jobs under the MGNREGS while scores of poor have been left out of the National Food Security Act.
“Nothing is being done to redress our plight,” said the villagers.
According to reports, the village was brought under Keonjhargarh municipality in 1988 from a panchayat. However, locals had opposed the move and even boycotted the civic body polls. After protests by locals, the civic body had decided to segregate it from its jurisdiction in 2007.
As the decision was not carried out, the locals had also protested it. Finally, it was brought out of the civic body purview to panchayat in 2011 after court intervention.
The urban development and panchayati raj departments came out with separate notifications about its exclusion from the civic body. “But nothing happened to its development. Since 1988, people have been facing a lot of problems due to the apathetic attitude of the administration and political class. Its inclusion in the panchayat has remained in notification only, but not worked out in reality,” people lamented.
“Now, villagers are planning to move the court for their rights as there is no help from the government,” said Maheswar Jena, a resident.
BDO Pradip Dang said, “The problem has arisen as no circular has been issued to include it in the panchayat. A proposal for its ward drawing has been sent to the government. However, the village has been included in the action plan of the current year so that development works can be carried out.” PNN
