The ST & SC Development Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Santosh Sarangi and Panchayati Raj Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Deo Ranjan Singh along with IG Operation Abhaya visited here on Saturday to discuss with the people of the Maoist-affected areas in the wake of the implementation of the Sunabeda Area Development Project.
The officials conducted a meeting at Michhapali village of Komna block and visited Cherechuan and Kholi villages. “We are here to discuss with the people about their problems and priorities,” said Sadangi, while Singh said, “The objective of the special project is socio-economic and infrastructure development in 12 Gram Panchayats in the plateau and the surrounding areas of Sunabeda.”
Notably, Union RD Minister Jayaram Ramesh during his visit to Odisha in February last had announced that the Central Government would provide financial support for development of the Maoist affected areas in Nuapada.
An agency named Sunabeda Area Development Agency (SADA) was formed and a proposal of `237 crores was submitted by the Odisha Government for implementing the project. The Centre has sanctioned `100 crores in the first phase.
“The administration should seek active participation of the local people in the planning and implementation of the programme,” said Rajsing Majhi of Salebhata village of Sunabeda Gram Panchayat.
“It should not be implemented like the Integrated Action Plan where the people have no stake at all in the decision making and implementation,” he added. The Sarpanchas of Sunabeda, Soseng, Bhainsadani and Michhapali Gram Panchayats had attended meeting.