A team of the Odisha Students’ Forum visited Nagad village in Jajpur district for an on-the-spot investigation into the malnutrition death of children there.
Having a population of 420, including 127 children, the village does not have basic facilities like drinking water, electricity and education. Neither minimum nutritional foods nor regular health service for both mother and child are made available in the village, said a member of the forum here briefing reporters hereon Saturday. He said Nagada is recognised as a Maoist-afflicted area and Rs 117 crore has been spent in the area under the IAP scheme. In this context, how the village has been omitted in the development map ands where did the money goIJ questioned forum member Badri Narayan Mohanty.
The district Collector, the ADM, the DFO, the DDA and the BDO were present during the student leaders’ visit. Similarly, another team of the forum visited the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and examined the treatment facilities of dengue patients there. Besides interacting with the patients, the forum members apprised the medical college chairman on the lack of blood, medicines, beds and ICUs in the hospital.
The team plans to visit the dengue-affected areas for an inspection soon, said member Dr Rina Rouray.