Keonjhar: Despite a host of welfare schemes and measures undertaken to bring about a change in the lives of tribals, many from the Juanga tribe have been leading a miserable life in the hilly areas of Bansapal block in Keonjhar district.
According to reports, 35 Juanga families inhabit the remote Baragada village and their living standard has remained the same as it was ten years ago.
They live in mud houses with thatched roofs as none of the various housing schemes of the state and the Central government has remained out of bounds for them.
Although 10 Juanga families in the region were to receive houses under a scheme, construction of those houses has been left half way for years. The authorities concerned have not taken any step to get these housing units completed, it was alleged.
Besides, elderly persons of the village like Sana Juanga, Saibani Juanga, Bansidhar Juanga, Chanda Juanga, Sidhha Juanga and Kansla Juanga have been left out of social security schemes like pensions and others.
The Juanga-dominated village is tucked away in the hilly terrains where the livelihood of people is solely dependent on minor forest produce. The village is 50 kilometres away from the block headquarters. In the absence of proper communication facility, people are compelled to suffer a lot, it was alleged.
This village has a drinking water project, but all taps are not working. In such a situation, the tribals are forced to consume water collected from a nearby stream.
“Though the village has electricity, low voltage has been a major problem. We are clearing all the dues, but do not receive receipts,” said Yadav Juanga.
Some conscious residents alleged that a number of welfare schemes for the tribals are not reaching them. “The village development has been given a short shrift despite funds coming from the government. Moreover, there is no proper road to the village. As a result, access to ambulance and fire tenders is almost impossible,” some villagers lamented.
Owing to lack of any means of livelihood, tribals here have resorted to shifting cultivation by burning trees to clear the forest. For them, working in MGNREGS has been a dream, they alleged.
“As they have no sources of livelihood, they are bound to destroy the forest to make space for cultivation. This has led to the loss of natural environment,” observed Pradip Rout, a social activist.
PNN