Odisha is in an advantageous situation, having a seasoned Odia tribal leader as the helm of tribal affairs in the Modi Cabinet and a State Government with an experienced and long-serving Chief Minister.
However, the hope and expectation is slowly fading away, looking at the worsening situation of poor tribals in the State.
There is hardly anybody today in the Government, both at the Centre and in the State, who are standing and representing the voice of tribals and help them come out of their present problem, except doing politics over their bodies.
It is disheartening to hear the most unfortunate killing of five tribals by the State police in the name of anti-Maoist operation in Kandhamal. How can police gun down innocent poor tribals and get awayIJ
And it is equally surprising to find Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram’s silence on the matterIJ What is preventing the Union Minister to pressurise the Central Government to take stern action against the erring officials, who are running free and those who are trying to shield the culprits in this chilling coldblooded murderIJ
What is also preventing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take stern punitive measures, who are trying to cover up this whole episode as a mere accidentIJ The Government must take note of the fact that every life counts and every voice matters in this democratic country. When the elected Government failed to protect the right to life, which is guaranteed under the constitution, there is no point of continuingIJ
The story of latest tribal sufferings does not end as it makes everybody to question the so-called pro-poor tribal policy, programme, and welfare schemes of the Odisha Government. In a recent incidence, there were as many as 19 children who have been confirmed dead due to acute malnutrition in the last three months in a mining dominated area in Jajpur district.
The kids belong to Juang community, a primitive tribe of Odisha. This incidence was unearthed in the hilltop village of Nagada in the mineral-rich Sukinda valley, which is just 200 km from the State capital, Bhubaneswar. It is a clear case of callousness and negligence of inept bureaucracy and insensitivity corrupt leadership in both the Centre and the State.
Unfortunately, acute poverty and lack of basic welfare services in this village came to light only after loss of such precious small lives, who are supposed to be protected by the Chief Minister. The issues of drinking water, health and education facilities are serious in these areas. What are the local elected representatives from the ruling party doing in this areaIJ
Such blink development picture reflects the inability of the Government to perform its primary duty that is to help people to come out from poverty and live a dignified life. There is no other person, but Naveen Patnaik should take responsibility of such unfortunate incident in the State and answer people, why such poor governance making the life of poor people hellIJ
And, how many more years he needs to continue to come to terms with the plight of the people and provide minimum development facilities to a small hamlet like Nagada. In which parameter, the Government can judge its performance as there is no Anganwadi centre, no school, no health sub-centre, and no fair-price shop and not even a road in this village.
This is not about one village Nagada. The situation is more or less same in thousands such villages in the State, dominated by tribals. Will Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Cabinet Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Orama take accountability of such incidence in the State and start acting toughIJ