Malkangiri: Despite plans being chalked out and crores being spent for rural development, very many areas in this district do not have basic facilities like health, education, communication and drinking water.
Kankadi village, 12km from the district headquarters, is one of these villages where people live in deprivation. The village comprises about 40 tribal families. These people primarily depend on Malkangiri town to meet their day-to-day needs. While villages are being connected with pucca roads under various schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, this village is not fortunate to have a pucca road. As a result, no bus plies to the village, forcing the inhabitants to walk down to the town. This takes them about two hours.
In rainy season, the situation is worse. People face a lot hardship during this season, and more so when they need to take a patient to hospital.
The administration is showing no seriousness in helping solve the plight of the villagers. “We have been complaining about the road condition repeatedly, but to no avail,” said Mangu Khila, Sitaram, Rosai and other villagers.
Another villager Bisu Pangi said the deprivation was such that the villagers used the water from a creek for drinking and cooking purposes. “In summer, the water problem gets worse as the creek turns dry. Then we are forced to drink contaminated water, and as a result the villagers are suffering from various health problems. We have met the block chairman, the block development officer and the sarpanch to seek their help, but nothing has been done,” he said.
BDO Biranchi Narayan Darwan said a tank has been dug up with a sanitary wall this year. “After preparing a project report for a road to the village, a proposal has been sent to the government this fiscal. Once approved, the construction work will begin,” he said.
PNN