Some non-Hindus came to tribal locality Pathargada Mundasahi at Mardarpur more than a fortnight back and allegedly persuaded the gullible tribal people to convert from Hinduism to Christianity.
According to the villagers, the Patharagada Mundaisahi was set up in 1960s following tribals from Keonjhar and Mayurbhanja districts came here to settle. They were engaged in construction of NH-5(A) and occupied the Government land to construct thatched houses.
later, their names were enrolled in voter list of the district whereas some of them obtained ration card under the National Food Security Act. However, though more than 50 years have been passed, the tribal cluster under Shyamsundarpur panchayat has not been covered under any development project. About 100 people of 20 tribal families have been residing in the hamlet.
The tribal basti lacks proper road connectivity, electricity and drinking water facilities. Besides, they have failed to avail any other Government sponsored projects. To go outside in search of daily wages, they have to use agriculture field. During rainy season, they are forced to pass through knee deep water in agriculture fields.
Taking advantage of the deplorable condition of these tribals, some Christians have been casting their voluptuous eye on them and persuading them to convert.
According to Susila Singh, the Christian people visited their Basti for five times and provided leaflets and books by persuading them to convert to Christianity. Even, they have been luring them to change their financial status and get benefits of pucca houses, road, electrification and money for children’s education and also jobs.
Earlier, the Basti people had thrown their leaflets and documents in the nearby water bodies. Meanwhile, about fortnight back, once again six Christian people visited their Basti and once again persuaded them to convert and accept their religion. They have given books and leaflets to 6-7 people.
According to Biswanath Singh, a local youth of Mardarpur , 6 years back, some Christian people came to the Basti and also influenced them to convert. After getting information, he and some locals had driven them out from the Basti.
If the statements of the tribal inhabitants of Mundasahi are to be believed, then not less than five times the Christian people came to their Basti and lured them to change their religion and accept Christianity by assuring them that their difficulties and deplorable condition would be changed as they would lend their supportive hand to them.
The locals of Mardarpur said since these tribals are illiterate, there is every possibility that due to their ignorance, they might be won over by the Christian missionaries. So before long, the district administration and the State Government should take steps to provide the tribals their much required basic amenities.
When contacted, Kendrapada BDO Kishore Chandra Swain stated that the Basti lacks communication facilities and also electrification. But the block administration earlier provided monthly pension to five tribal people and also allotted IAY to six families. But as these people are staying in Government land and do not possess the Record of Rights (land patta) in their names, so they failed to construct IAY houses.
He, however, said that he had not got any complaint about the act of the Christian missionaries in the tribal cluster.