Malkangiri: Villagers of as many as six panchayats in Malkangiri district have threatened to accept Andhra Pradesh's statehood if their demands for fulfillment of basic facilities in the region are not met by the Odisha government.
As per reports, thousands of residents of six panchayats in the cut-off area named 'Swabhiman Anchal' congregated at Orapadar and decided to boycott Odisha government and accept Andhra's dominion if their long pending demands of basic education and healthcare are not fulfilled soon enough.
Locals allege Anganwadi centers and schools are not being opened regularly which is severely hampering education of their children. The schools of Panasaput, Andarapali, Jadamba, Jantri, Gajalmamudi and Mudulipada panchayats reportedly do not have adequate number of teachers.
Villagers have also demanded new health centers and construction of basic infrastructure like roads in the region. The tribals further claimed that they are deprived of benefits of various government schemes and development in their area has been a far-fetched dream due to several reasons.
"We will lock down all schools, disrupt communication, boycott government ration and old-age allowance and if still our demands are not fulfilled we will embrace Andhra Pradesh as our state," said a local.
Recently in June, thousands of tribals organised a huge congregation in the cut-off Khairaput Tehsil of the district to demand development in their region.
Last month, locals of 5 panchayats in Chitrakonda area also threatened to hold mass protest demanding basic amenities in the Swabhiman Anchal, however, they withdrew their decision after discussions with district administration.