Badasahi: Even as weathermen have predicted an early onset of monsoon in the state, over 400 tribal families living in several villages at the foothill of Similipal under Badasahi block of Mayurbhanj are now a worried lot. Reason: They are going to face a lot of problems commuting across the Gadishadhara river in the absence of a bridge, at a time when their villages will be water-logged throughout the rainy season.
The low-lying villages to be affected by severe water-logging included Champagad, Upara Lodha Sahi, Tala Lodha Sahi, Barang Sahi and Chatana Sahi in Jadupur panchayat. Tribals of Lodha, Bhumija, Barang and Santhali communities reside in these villages.
Locals said four years ago, when Cyclone Phailin hit the area, the bridge across the river and the road leading to it were washed away. Since then, the tribals have been facing severe commuting problems, but the government has not taken any initiative to repair the bridge or road nor build new ones.
“As we have no road connectivity and the bridge is lying damaged, we have been facing a lot of hardships in finding easy access to healthcare, education and communication,” they rued. The tribals pointed out another problem that was created by Phailin four years back.
“When Phailin struck, a huge amount of water overflowing from Similipal swept the area. As a result, the rushing waters created another creek near the villages. The river has proved to be a major hurdle in communication and has made life even more difficult for us,” they lamented.
To save the villages from overflowing waters from the new creek, the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA, Baripada) has built a check dam at a cost of Rs 77 lakh in 2013-14. “However, the villagers fail to get benefits from the check dam,” said villagers Naga Singh, Raison Chapiar, Sushil Bhakta and Yudhistir Singh.
“Damaged bridge and check dam have become hurdles in communication. In the entire rainy season, the villages remain water-logged, but the administration doesn’t wake up to our plight. Venturing out of the village to get rations is too difficult,” they said.
Gajendra Singh, Padmalochan Majhi and Karama Singh said local residents have to wade through a muddy road along the check dam to buy their items from distant places. In emergencies, patients undergo an ordeal when ambulance services, fire services and medical services become inaccessible in the absence of proper communication.
After years of protests, the government has opened a primary school, but their wards after completing primary education have to walk five km to reach an upper primary school.
“Children have to stop their studies for three months during the monsoon when they are unable to venture out of their houses,” the villagers said. The area is malaria-prone. As healthcare services continue to remain inaccessible, people rely on quacks, traditional healings, sorcery and rituals and even animal sacrifice to treat patients.
It is an irony that crores of rupes are being spent for development of tribals through various schemes, but people in these villages have been deprived of basic facilities in all sectors. Director of ITDA, Brahmananda Behera said steps will be taken in this direction after holding talks with officials. PNN
