Kendrapara: The state government claims that it would provide basic facilities to all villagers through the Ama Gaon Ama Bikas programme.
But if anyone visits the Dalit colony of Dahianta in the Sahira Gram Panchayat of Aul block, he can come across the problems the villagers face in travelling outside.
Sources said around 60 families with about 300 people are staying at the Dahianti Harijansahi. But the village lacks facilities to travel outside.
The villagers depend on a rickety bamboo bridge which they had constructed themselves to link up with the outside world.
Every day the Dalit villagers go to Aul block by using this bamboo bridge. Children risk their lives crossing the bridge to go to school.
If someone who is ill or a pregnant woman has to go to hospital the villagers or the family of the person concerned has to carry the patient on a sling through the bamboo bridge, said Dalit villager Bikash Mallick.
“The 108 ambulance has never come here. Due to lack of a proper bridge we are facing acute problems. The approach to the village is a mud road. During rains we face problems due to this,” said Abhaya Mallick, another villager.
“We have approached local politicians, the block and district administrations requesting to provide a good road and a concrete bridge several times. But we have got only assurances from the administration and politicians. Nobody has shown any interest in our problems,” said Sulochana Mallick, a Dalit woman.
Collector Dasarathi Satpathy said the matter has come to his knowledge and he would look into it.
PNN