Athamallik: Not even a single building has concrete roof in the villages of Beladula and Fakirpur in Kandhapada panchayat of this block in Angul district.
Like what they have been following for the last 200 years, these villagers are still living in houses with slanted tile or pantile roofs.
The villagers believe that if they discontinue the old-age tradition, the deity of their villages will get upset and they will have to face misfortunes in the form unknown diseases and calamities.
Every Thursday, villagers offer milk and coconut to Maa Raktamauli. In the month of Margasira, a special puja will be conducted.
It is believed that Maa fulfils the wishes of those who visit her altar. Hundreds of people visit the temple from different parts of the state.
According to the villagers, a priest had Maa in his dream saying that she should not be worshiped in a concrete roof-top house.
Over the years, many government schemes have been introduced to provide pucca houses to villagers.
But yojanas including Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Indira Awas Yojhana and Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana seem to have no effect on these villagers.
Even if Anganwadi and school buildings are constructed here, tiles or asbestos are used as roofs.
No wonder then if you come across even roof-less toilets constructed under Swachh Bharat Mission!
