Jharigaon: People in inaccessible tribal villages in Nabarangpur district live on rain water dropping from their thatched roofs during rainy season.
Tribals of Kuninala village of Telanadi panchayat under this block have to quench their thirst with muddy water of a nearby river in other seasons, a report said.
With no access to government programmes, basic facilities like health, education, roads and electricity are daydreams for people here.
According to reports, members of Jani community had left Chanabada area in Koraput district about 30 years back for some reasons. They settled down amid a dense forest off upper catchment areas of river Pudaamba in this block.
Their population has reached 120. The hamlet, about 25 km from the block headquarters, is surrounded by Baldig mountain in the east, Marchimal village in north and thick forest of Chingada Dangari and Pudaamba river in south. Most of the villagers live on cultivating paddy, ragi, maize and other crops.
Though the village is just seven kms from panchayat office, its inhabitants mostly use water of Pudaamba for drinking purpose. Since they have no access to other sources of water, they drink the river water and rain water during rainy season exposing themselves to waterborne diseases, Gora Jani and Ratan Muduli of the village said.
Health workers and Anganwadi workers never visit the village since the village doesn’t have an approach road, Sabitri Muduli, Mili Jani and Jamadhar Muduli alleged.
The residents laid a road by their own labour last year as the tube-well drilling vehicle couldn’t enter the village. However, a tube-well is yet to be installed in the locality, the tribals said, adding, the panchayat officials don’t pay heed to their complaints. Similarly, none of the villagers have got forest land pattas which they consider their rights.
A tube well is a crying need for this village and the matter has been communicated to the block administration, panchayat executive officer Dasarathi Gonda said.PNN