Bhadrak district Collector Trilochan Majhi visited Talagopbindha Gram Panchayat with the ADM, Tihidi BDO, Salandi Canal Division Executive Engineer and local elected representatives pursuant to a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) directive.
The NHRC has sought an Action-Taken Report (ATR) from the district Collector of Bhadrak over the violation of basic human rights of residents of Talagopbindha gram panchayat in Bhadrak district.
Acting on a petition filed by activist and human rights lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy the NHRC sought to know the ground realities.
The case relates to allegations of the complainant that the Government of Odisha has deprived certain villages of the basic human amenities of life such as safe drinking water, health, education facility and proper road etc. which tantamount to violation of human right.
Tripathy stated the residents in the Panchayat are yet to be ensured all-weather roads from all the sides and to all the hamlets like Malika Sahi, Nayak Sahi.
The muddy road between Narsinghpur and Matagajpur needs to be renovated and converted to be all-weather road, he sought.
The road from Rajuali Bindha UP School to Tarini Mandir is yet to be made pucca road. Lighting facilities, cyclone Shelter Center, ANM center are still mirage for the Panchayat residents, Tripathy contended.
The Phoolpada Project Primary School building is still in endangered condition which needs to be constructed for the safety and security of students and teachers. Despite assurance from one of the volunteers that he would donate land for the purpose of construction of the school and informing the District Education Officer about the same, the field enquiry has not been implemented, Tripathy told in his petition.
Failure of the Government of India and the State Government has led to denial of basic human rights to 5,000 villagers of the Gram Panchayat, Tripathy alleged.
Notably, since 2012, Tripathy alone has filed six cases for ensuring the basic amenities of the Gram Panchayat but the administration has not paid adequate attention even after getting the orders from NHRC, New Delhi.
This time, NHRC directed the District Magistrate, Bhadrak, to submit additional action taken report within four weeks positively.
While visiting the affected areas and spots, the Collector also assured the locals that all the works will be started latest by the end of this year.