The Central and State Government schemes for tribal development have fallen flat in backward Gajapati district. Tamarada village in Gumma block is deprived of basic amenities. Education, drinking water, road transport, electricity, medical service, MGNREGs and empl yment are still a far cry in the village. The other tribal prone villages are no better.
To go to the Tamarada village one has to take the Paralakhemundi- Kashinagar road up to Apalna du Pata and from there to take a right turn. The road is completely in a precarious state. Due to the rains, it gets muddy and it’s difficult to walk or for any vehicle to move on the road.
Consequently, during the delivery period and ailment, the villagers are forced to bring the patients by carrying them on their shoulders with sling. Most of the time, the villagers have requested the officials to include the road under the Pradhan Mantri Sadaka Yojana but to no avail.
In the village, there are three streets, such as Kampa street, Harijana street and Guuda street. As many as 51 families are residing there. More than 200 people are living in the village.
The villagers alleged that drinking water is a main problem in the village. Four tube wells are there but none is in workable condition. Two wells are available but people drink water only from one well, even that well is polluted and after drinking the polluted water, the villagers are suffering from multiple diseases like kidney, liver , besides malaria, dengue etc. They are admitted to the hospitals in Brahmapur and Visakhapatnam. Till today the administration has not shown any interest for the holistic development of the villagers in spite of repeated requests.
The villagers alleged that MGNREG scheme has failed to provide jobs to the locals and due to fear of polluted water, many villagers have left and migrated to different parts of the States to work as daily labourers. The Anganwadi center is in a shambles. The class is conducted in a house veranda. In the year 1959, a primary school was opened in the village. Nearly 50 to 60 students were studying but due to lack of proper road, teachers are unable to come regularly to the school. Now, the strength of the school has reduced to eleven. Finally the school has closed down due to lack of strength. Now, the village students travel nearly 15 km daily for their education.
The Swatch Bharat Abhiyan scheme did not work properly in the village and toilet construction scheme has gone awry. The villagers have been deprived of electricity for years.