Around 5,000 tribals have threatened to boycott polls in the Kandhamal lok Sabha and Phulbani Assembly constituencies protesting against the State Government’s apathetic attitude towards development of areas.
The tirbals of Bilabadi, Danga, Shraba, Mallickpada, Shamapaju, Birigada and five other villages have alleged that the State Government is yet to fulfill their basic demands like drinking water, electricity, education and healthcare.
According to a tribal leader, the Government has failed to provide facilities like proper communication, education, healthcare, drinking water, electricity and essential services for years together. “We have been neglected by the Government, no leaders have ever visited us or heard our plights,” he added.
Similarly, about 6,000 voters in five tribal dominated Gram Panchayats in Balliguda Assembly constituency have also threatened to boycott the polls to express their ire against the Government. Kandhamal district Collector N Tirumala Nayak said they were trying to persuade the tribals to use their rights and exercise their franchise in due time. “We are pursuading them to cast their votes, which is their right. We have assured them that their demands will be addressed,” Nayak added.