Joda: A tribal village under this block in Keonjhar district paints a picture of utter neglect and abject poverty with the residents surviving only on rice, wild greens, and wild roots while their children suffer from malnutrition, a report said.
Development has taken a backseat in this village identified as Pidhapokhari under Kalimati panchayat of the block. It is alleged that the village has been missing the development goals due to government apathy and neglect.
In this village, the majority of the residents live below the poverty line despite being placed at only 25 km distance from the block headquarters and eight km from the panchayat headquarters. The incident came to light after reports highlighted the plight of malnourished children in another village under Joda Mining area. The district administration intervened then and admitted the children to the nutrition resources centre (NRC) at Barbil in Keonjhar district. Reports suggest that a nutritious diet is a dream for the villagers and the only thing they get to eat is rice, wild greens, and wild roots.
As a result, most of the children here suffer from malnutrition. There are two mines near the village but the villagers have failed to get direct or indirect employment in the mines and do odd jobs to earn a living. The district mineral foundation (DMF) has recently sanctioned funds for the construction of a road to the village after reports regarding people suffering from abject poverty came out in various media. The village is still deprived of basic healthcare facilities while children don’t get a basic education. The only succor for them is the rice they get under the government scheme which helps them get food for half of the month. As the women do not get proper food, the children they deliver are born weak and feeble and suffer from malnutrition.
Nutrition deficiencies inflict long-term damage on them and make them less productive and prone to various diseases. Most of the children fail to achieve proper physical and mental growth due to a lack of proper and nutritious foods. When contacted, child development project officer (CDPO) Sukanti Patra of Joda block said that she will visit the area soon and take stock of the situation. The children affected by malnutrition will be identified and proper measures will be taken for their rehabilitation and recovery, she added.