Rayagada district has 881 inaccessible villages out of 2,445. They don’t have approach road, electricity, safe drinking water and healthcare facilities etc. However, the administration of late has taken a series of steps to be closer to the inhabitants there and provide them minimum amenities.
Though these villages are hit by left Wing Extremism (lWE), which has been a major impediment for carrying out development works, still the administration has braced for meeting the challenge.
Sub-Collector, Gunupur, Amrit Ruturaj has accepted the challenges of infrastructure deficit in these inaccessible villages and started pro-acting on the vital issues like safe drinking water, electricity, approach road, basic health facilities and social security schemes, etc.
As a part of a rapid and participatory rural appraisal, Ruturaj visited many interior villages like Kurli inhabited by Dangaria Kandhas in Niyamagiri hills. He has also replicated the same in another interior village like Putasing which is inhabited by another PVTG lanjia Saura. Similarly, several other inaccessible villages of Chandrapur were traversed by the young officer.
Rayagada’s two PVTGs namely lanjia Souras and Dangaria Kandhas inhabit mainly in Gunupur subdivision. Apart from keeping law and order as a Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Gunupur Sub-division, Ruturaj has gone much beyond and has planned to combat the infrastructure deficit especially in the tribal villages.
When the tribal villagers of Kandabaridi under Ramanaguda block warned to boycott the next election, protesting non-availability of basic facilities like pre-primary education, Anganwadi Centre, regular functioning of the primary school, safe drinking water, approach road, Ruturaj walked seven km in the undulated forest terrain to meet the people. After taking stock of the situation, he solved many of the problems of the locals like drinking water, electricity, health and veterinary services. Though immediate construction of an approach road to the village is a daunting task, the process has been initiated.
Under his leadership, two mega camps for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), one each at Gunupur and Muniguda, were conducted. Due to relentless efforts to ensure welfare of the disables, the district has stood first in rehabilitating PwDs for which it has been awarded by the Chief Minister.
The Sub Collector was instrumental in seizing several vehicles engaged in unauthorized lifting of minor minerals and distributing hundreds of record of rights to the poor. He also successfully conducted three-day Chaiti at the sub-divisional level. Besides, he has put a smooth paddy procurement system in all the blocks of Gunupur sub-division.