Jajpur: The district administration’s bid to get the nomadic ‘Mankidia’ tribals into the mainstream and rehabilitate them, has hit a roadblock with irregularities plaguing the construction of houses for them, sources said Tuesday. The ‘Mankidia’ tribe also known as ‘Mankadia’, is a nomadic ethnic group specialising in catching monkeys and collecting siali fibre and honey from forests. They mostly live in Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Sambalpur, Kalahandi, and Sundargarh districts. However, the numbers of the tribe are declining rapidly and they are on the verge of extinction. Members of the tribe currently reside at Mallharsahi village near Kaliapani mines under Sukinda block in this district. The administration allotted 1,742 sq feet of land under the Forest Rights Act at Kusumdiha village under Ransol panchayat for the construction of houses for 87 Mankidia families in February, 2019. The district mineral foundation (DMF) sanctioned more than Rs 3.25 crore for the purpose. The deadline for completion of houses was fixed for February 2020, but halfway through 2023 not even half the construction is complete. The then District Collector Ranjan Kumar Das visited the ‘Mankidia’ slum and announced the construction of houses. He had informed the tribe members that each house will have a separate bathroom and drinking water facilities. A power supply will also be provided to each house.
Sources alleged that the project is in no way near completion due to the misappropriation of funds. They said that the construction done so far is sub-standard and as a result, the half-built houses are collapsing. Locals added that the contractor and engineers have worked jointly to misuse the money for the project. The matter came to the fore after social activist Mantu Das wrote a letter to the Chief Secretary requesting him to probe the matter. He added in the letter that the aim to provide pucca houses by the administration to the ‘Mankidia’ people stands defeated.
Sources said locals have no involvement in the implementation of development works in mining areas. Development has taken a backseat in these areas and villages like Nagada, Tumuni, and Guhiasal under Sukinda block still lack basic facilities. This becomes clear when one sees the deplorable conditions the ‘Mankidia’ tribals live in at Mallharsahi village. The DMF fund has been specially created for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining-related operations. The fund is built with contributions from miners. Locals alleged that the nexus between politicians, officers and contractors have affected the proper utilisation of the fund. When contacted, Jajpur Collector Chakravarti Singh Rathore said that construction has started again and the previous agency entrusted with the work has been removed. He assured that charges of sub-standard work will be probed and action will be taken against persons involved in this irregularity