Members of the city-based MaaGhara Foundation had visited Malkangiri district in November and met families of poor Adivasi children dying of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) to compile a ground zero report and submit it to the Chief Minister.
By request of the MaaGhara members, eminent national activist and president of Bandhua Mukti Morcha Swami Agnivesh also wrote a letter to the President of India to exercise his power and provide aid for the tribal children.
The organisation demanded to conduct panchayat wise vaccination of all the children, financial compensation to the victims’ families and to upgrade their rickety dwellings. As per the foundation’s demand, the State Government and Malkangiri administration has started a vaccination drive by establishing more than 150 centres in 108 panchayats and providing vaccination to all the children for prevention of the dreaded disease.
On December 24, the Chief Minister declared a compensation of Rs 3 lakh and pucca houses to all the victims’ families to improve their living standards. The members of the foundation have conveyed their hearty thanks to the Chief Minister of Odisha and Malkangiri district administration for fulfilling their demands.
MaaGhara Foundation State president Rutuparna Mohanty, Nabarangpur president Kadambini Tripathy , Koraput president SanjuktaSahoo, Malkangiri president Prasanti Bisoi, Balaswar president JyoshnaMohanty , Cuttack president Sunita Gupta and Jharsuguda president Padmini Singh were among those who have conveyed their thanks to the CM.