Rayagada: A tribal family of Rayagada district has moved to bordering Andhra Pradesh alleging that they had been deprived of benefits of Odisha government's social security schemes.

Last year, the family of Chinna Rao Kalka of Khilimisiguda village under Rayagada block deserted the village and settled at Reba village of Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. The family claimed that they took the decision because the Rayagada administration had neglected them.

"After residing for over 35 years, I was compelled to leave my village with my family. I decided to settle in Andhra Pradesh. While residing in my village I had to make several rounds of government offices to get a job card under the MGNREGA. Getting Aadhaar card also proved difficult. After I moved to Andhra Pradesh, I got my Aadhaar card, voter identity card and ration card within one year," said Chinna Rao.

"Also, I have been provided free land under a government scheme for construction of home," he said.

Rao, his wife, two daughters, three sons, father and mother is now staying in Andhra Pradesh. They have been enrolled as voters in Andra Pradesh's Kurupam Assembly constituency.

"Here, my elder daughter is studying at a tribal residential school in Class III and we are very happy," he said.

Recalling his days in Odisha, Rao said there was no village-level development and getting government schemes were a struggle."In Andhra, we don't have to struggle to get benefits of government schemes," he said.

Block development officer, Rayagada, Rajendra Majhi told The Telegraph that he was unaware of the situation Khilimisiguda village.

He said: "I will enquire into the development activities at Khilimisiguda village and find out the reasons for tribal families deserting the village."

The BJP have alleged that if the government did not pay proper attention to the plight of border villages, there would be an exodus of tribal families to Andhra Pradesh.

"The state government must accept the reality that development has taken a backseat in remote border villages. If the trend is not checked, then more tribal families will be forced to leave the state," said Kaliram Majhi, national vice-president of BJP's tribal wing.