Villagers of Paharia at the health camp in Kutubpur. Picture by Amit Kumar

Kutubpur (Bhagalpur), Feb. 27: Phoolmuni Paharia, a resident of Kutubpur, was relieved after a free medical check-up camp was organised at the village, 37km from Bhagalpur, yesterday.

Her two-year-old daughter had high fever. In the absence of medical facilities in the village, the camp was a boon for her.

Phoolmuni was not the only one who benefited from such a camp. Residents, who are members of the endangered Sauria Paharia tribe, from three areas in the village — Kudra Tola, Ramjanipur Paharia Tola and Chandipur — went to the daylong camp set up by voluntary organisation Angika Development Society (ADS) on February 26.

The residents, however, did not know about Swasthya Mahakumbh, the camp organised by the state government, at Sandis compound in Bhagalpur from February 25. The camp, inaugurated by Governor Devanand Konwar, will conclude today in the presence of deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

Mangal Paharia, the village head, said: “We didn’t have any information about a health camp at Bhagalpur. While members of ADS personally came to the village to inform us about the health camp, no official told us about the camp organised by the state government.”

Government officials, including Sanjoy Kumar, the sub-divisional officer of Kahalgaon, failed to explain why the residents were not informed about the Bhagalpur camp. They also failed to ensure the active participation of residents of Kutubpur at the camp.

On the other hand, the Bhagalpur-based organisation — ADS — arranged a free health check-up and medicine distribution camp for the residents of Kutubpur right at their doorsteps.

Runa Paharia, a resident, said: “We preferred to attend the health camp organised by ADS here rather than visiting Bhagalpur. The doctors were attentive to our problems and we got proper medicines at the camp. This is the third consecutive health camp organised by ADS.” Zeni Shabnam, the co-ordinator of Sankalp — a programme of ADS — which covers these camps, said the organisation have been working for the community from 2009. “Poverty is the main reason why people here have been neglecting their health. But we have given priority to the health problems of the residents here,” said Shabnam.

Rajesh Kumar Srivastava, the secretary of ADS, said: “We knew that the residents would not be able to reach Bhagalpur for the state government-sponsored health camp. So we arranged to provide them the facilities at the village.” Shyam Paharia, the only literate person in the village, said the residents have to travel 7km to Kahalgaon to avail health facilities. “We don’t have enough money for two square meals a day. How can we afford medicines?” asked Shyam, adding that most of the villagers work as daily-wage labourers in nearby stone pits in the absence of irrigation facilities.

Srivastava alleged the mushrooming stone pits in the nearby Kashri hills were operating illegally.