The BJP on Thursday urged Governor Dr SC Jamir to exercise his constitutional power to protect the lives of Odisha people in general and tribals in particular, from utter poverty by directing the State Government to implement all Central and State welfare schemes meant for the downtrodden.
A team-led by party State president Basant Panda submitted a memorandum to Jamir in this regard.
Panda informed the Governor that a 10-member fact-finding team had visited Nagada village in Jajpur district, where as many as 19 children died due to malnutrition in just three-four months, and talked to villagers, most of whom are Juanga tribals, and interacted Government officials at ground level regarding the deaths.
The team found that children died due to chronic hunger and malnutrition and lack of medical treatment. While no family has been provided NFSA ration cards, Antodaya Anna Yojana is yet to reach the village.
Similarly, ICDS programme is a nonstarter in the village as there is no Angwanwadi Centre. Villagers are ye to get job cards under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Besides, the children are deprived of getting free education and midday meal. Juanga families have also not been given land patta under the Forest Rights Act, alleged the memorandum.
Despite being an industrial hub there is no road connectivity to Nagada village. The tribals use forest track to cover 10 km on foot to get benefits under various schemes.
Even Indira Awas Yojana and Biju Pucca Ghara Yojana are yet to be implemented in the village. There is no tube well.
“Nagada is not a standalone example of neglected villages in our State. The lack of will power to provide basic fundamental amenities to people in general and tribals in particular by the Naveen Patnaik Government is thoroughly exposed,” alleged the memorandum.
The leaders who were in the fact-finding included Panda, former president KV Singh Deo and Sameer Mohanty.