Nandapur: With Andhra Pradesh allegedly trying to annex the land that belongs to Odisha, the lack of development in some villages close to the border is helping the neighbouring state. The Andhra Pradesh government has now set its eye on another Odisha village by promising sops for its residents. The inhabitants of Panasaput village under Nandapur block in Koraput district is allegedly the next target of the Andhra government. The village in Ward No-9 of Panthalung panchayat of the block is still deprived of basic facilities that are available to other villages in Odisha.
A good road connecting with neighbouring villages, drinking water facilities, primary education, healthcare services, pensions and allowances and houses under ‘Awas Yojana’ still elude the villagers as the state government has failed in providing these facilities. The only development the village has seen so far is the power supply by the Odisha government. However, for drinking water, they have to depend on the Andhra government. Such lack of basic facilities has emboldened the Andhra Pradesh government to lure the villagers. There are approximately 150 inhabitants in the village. The Andhra government is providing the village with drinking water by constructing a tank in the village. Ward member Bati Rampa alleged that they have to walk for over four kilometres on hilly terrain to reach Andraguda village to buy necessary articles or attend to important work. They get an Anganwadi, school, health sub-centre and a market to buy their household goods only after reaching Andraguda village.
Similarly, they have to travel for 15km to Panthalum panchayat and 60km to Nandapur block to file their complaints on the availability of subsidised rice or pensions. Over 80 per cent of the residents in the village do not know what is a district headquarters centre. Not a single villager has been included in the ‘Awas Yojana’ of the state government and the Centre. While the villagers are struggling to make both ends meet, some social activists representing Andhra Pradesh have provided ration cards, Aadhaar cards and opened bank accounts for some villagers while four to five children are receiving assistance for their education. Lima Hantal, a widow is yet to get her pension even after the demise of her husband 12 years back.
Similar is the plight of Naga Devi Hantal, whose husband passed two years back. More importantly, these two women still do not have the death certificates of their husbands which has deprived them of their rightful pension and other benefits. When contacted, Nandapur BDO Sujit Mishra said that the district administration has issued strict instructions to keep a close watch on the bordering villages. He said that officials will visit the Pansaput village soon and take necessary steps for the development of the villagers. He added that all benefits will be provided to the two widows.