A year on, Koraput girl Sonali Das’ Paduguda village still awaits development

This day last year, Paduguda, a nondescript village under the Dasamantapur block of Koraput district, suddenly shot to fame when Sonali Das, then a four-year-old student of Koraput Saraswati Sishu Mandir, narrated the plight of her village in front of invited guests during her role play at the Independence Day celebration in the district. 

While the then Odisha Agriculture Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain, former MLA Raghuram Podal and the then district Collector Abddal M. Akhtar were on the dais, the little girl narrated how the government officials kept on promising to solve the problems of her village and then go back on them. 

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“There is no road connectivity to our village. We are facing problems. We don’t have a drinking water facility. There is no well or tube well in our village. We are collecting water from a pit. Whenever anyone falls ill, we carry him on a cot to medical. As there is no telecom tower, we can’t use mobile phones. The government officials are telling about the development of the village, but no development has taken place in our village,” she had said.

As if waking up from deep slumber, the next day, Dasmantpur BDO, assistant engineer, officials of the water and sanitation department, education department, livestock department and supply officials visited the village and held a meeting with the villagers. The then MLA had adopted the village. 

The villagers then thought their days of suffering would end soon. 

But nothing like that happened. Their problems remain the same even today. 

“We have still no drinking water facility in our village. No well. We are in severe difficulties babu,” said Das.

The village is inhabited by 90 families. During the rainy season, the pothole-riddled village road turns slushy, making negotiating the road a harrowing task.

“We were then told our problems would be solved within two months. After two months, we met the district Collector who told us the work would start within two months. One year has passed, but nothing has happened,” rued Dilip Gaarda, a Paduguda villager. 

“Since the village has no pucca road, pregnant women and patients are being carried on cots for three kilometres to find an ambulance,” said Kala Jani, an Anganwadi worker. 

As per the villagers’ allegations, six months ago, pipes were laid out in the hamlets of the village to provide drinking water. While the contractor earned a heavy buck, it didn’t help the villagers in any way. Even today, the villagers are collecting water from pits dug on the Muran river bed. 

“A plastic pipe is connected to a steam. But that arrangement is not sufficient. So we bring water from the river bed,” said Joshada Nayak, a Poduguda resident.  

The villagers are also waiting for electricity. They have meters installed in their houses but have yet to get the connection. 
About the education facility, the less said the better. As the school roof leaks, students are forced to sit on the verandah. 

“On rainy days, we sit on the verandah as the roof of the school building leaks. There is also fear of mishap,” said Durjyadhan Lamata, a teacher. 

When contacted, Dasmantpur BDO Milan Kumar Jhankar said, “Since there was MCC during the elections, no steps could be taken. After the rainy season, work will start immediately. Once the road is constructed, all help will reach them one by one.”

(Reported by Giridhara Khara)