The BJP on Tuesday slammed the Naveen Patnaik-led State Government over the deaths in Nagada village in mineral-rich Sukinda valley of Jajpur district, which reported 18 children deaths due to malnutrition between March and June, and alleged that Central scheme funds were misappropriated by local BJD leaders.
“The Nagada issue symbolises the BJD Government’s failure and inefficiency. Despite allocation of funds from the Central Government for development of the Juang tribe, but due to the State Government’s and local ruling party leaders’ inefficiency children are dying without food and proper care,” said BJP MlA Rabi Nayak, who was part of a 10-member fact finding team which visited the village recently.
MlA Pradip Purohit who also visited the village for assessment of ground situation alleged that though six Indira Awas houses were granted to Juang tribals in 2002 in Nagada, the funds were misappropriated by local leaders.
“All children in the village were malnourished and suffered from many other related medical complications. The families were not getting 35 kg of rice per month, to which they are entitled being among the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups,” said Purohit, adding that many families were not provided ration cards under the National Food Security Act.
There is no road connectivity, drinking water, education and power in the village located on a hilltop.
Nagada, a village surrounded by mountainous forests from all sides, located from 18 km from Chungudipal gram panchayat office and around 20 km from the Tata Mining Hospital, is a habitation of Juang tribals belonging to a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.
The total population of Juang tribals in the village is around 250 with 36 families. One has to trek 15 km in the forest to reach the nearest motorable road from the village.