Even 24 years of stable BJD govt failed to ensure basic needs of this Odisha village

While the previous BJD government left no stone unturned to blow its own trumpet over infrastructural development in its 24 years of ruling in Odisha, there are many interior pockets in the State that still elude motorable roads, schools, potable water supply and roof over the head even after more than 75 years of Independence.

A glaring example of persistent infrastructure woes is Garadapani village under Rairangpur block in Mayurbhanj district.

This remote village, which is home to around 200 people, lies marooned and cut off from the rest of the world. Despite over 75 years of independence and 24 years of stable BJD government in the State, the villagers are still staring at the lurch sans motorable road.

Forget road connectivity, schools, drinking water supply and mobile networks are still a distant dream for the villagers who have been a victim of the stepmotherly attitude of the previous government for over the years.

“We are still in doubt if our country has got independence or not. We are deprived of all basic facilities like road, school and potable water,” alleged Dahno Singh, a resident of the village.

Moreover, when someone in the village falls sick, the fellow villagers are forced to take a perilous journey navigating through the potholes and blunt rocks on the kuttcha road to take a patient to the hospital in cots.

“Sans motorable road, we face hardship for our daily transportation. When someone falls sick, we are also left with no option other than carrying him to hospital on a cot as ambulance cannot reach our village due to poor road condition. This is very unfortunate,” said Somanath Munda, another villager.

As the sun sets in, the students in the village use lanterns to study sans electricity supply to the village. Moreover, the movement of wild animals like elephants, bears and other reptiles in the darkness of the night comes as a double whammy for the villagers. 

Even after running from pillar to post, all their cry for the basic facilities have fallen on deaf ears, the locals alleged.

“The village lacks basic facilities like electricity supply and motorable road. Even after raising the matter before the higher authorities, nothing has been done so far. However this time, the Collector has assured to take necessary action to carry out the developmental work in the village,” said Mili Rani Singh of Kuleisila Panchayat.

Reported by Jashobant Barik