Sixty-four long years after Independence, the Paharia tribe of Odisha is not living like human beings. We all are silent spectators. The Pahariars are recognised as one of the primitive tribes in Chhattisgarh, but in Odisha they are not provided that status. We have drawn the attention of the Naveen Patnaik Government in this regard several times, but they have not initiated any step,” said leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Narasingha Mishra in a discussion with members of the District Press Club (DPC) of Nuapada at Khariar on Sunday.
The Government has also failed to provide safe drinking water to the people. The drinking water sources in 78 out of 126 villages of Sinapali block contain fluoride, he pointed out.
Press Club members drew Mishra’s attention to various issues of the district including that of according tribal status to the Paharia community of Odisha. Mishra assured that he would raise the issue in the forthcoming Assembly session and demand submission of a fresh proposal by the State Government to the Centre for inclusion of the Paharias in the Constitutional order.
The Government has become complacent because in spite of all their problems, people are voting the BJD to power,” Mishra rued. Earlier on Saturday night attending a public meeting on the third day of the Udanti Mahotsav at Sinapali, Mishra had echoed the same feeling. “People are demanding a barrage in river Udanti since long, but the Government has not paid any heed to it, he said.
Nuapada MlA and BJP leader Basant Panda and President of Zilla Parishad Puspanjali Pande also expressed the same concern about development of Nuapada district. “It is great that this Mahotsav brought together leaders of three political parties on a single platform and all of us are expressing the same concern about the problems of the district,” said Narasingha Mishra.
Basant Panda said the administration has failed to address the issues of distress sale of paddy and irrigation. “The district has a target of installing 4,000 bore well for irrigation, but only 1,000 have been done. I have seen hundreds of lift irrigation systems installed by the Chhattisgarh Government on the other side of Jonk river, but on our side of the river there is none,” lamented Panda.