Bhubaneswar, July 19: Opposition parties have seized the opportunity to embarrass the state government on the issue of malnutrition in Jajpur district.
At least 18 children have died within three months allegedly due to malnutrition at Nagada village in the mineral-rich Sukinda valley. Earlier, cases of malnutrition and starvation deaths used to be reported from the undivided Korapur-Balangir-Kalahandi (KBK) districts, one of the most backward regions across the country.
But, the reports of malnutrition-related deaths in the developed and mineral-rich Jajpur district have stunned everybody. "Even in a developed district of Jajpur, we have a place called Nagada where many malnourished children have died and many are dying. This has brought to the light the falsity of claims made by chief minister Naveen Patnaik about the development taking place across the state, especially in the tribal areas, in the past 16 years," said Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra.
"Nagada has opened everybody's eyes to the true state of affairs in the tribal areas, be it Nagada, or Gumudumaha in Kandhamal or dengue-affected Keonjhar. While all these things are unfolding, the chief minister is keeping mum, because he has no answer," said Mishra. Juang tribes live at Nagada, which lacks all basic amenities, be it road connectivity, health care or food security.
"The administration has never set its foot on this tribal village. There is no sign of civilization or so-called development," said Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Sulochana Das, who was a part of 12-member delegation, which visited the area.
Stating that there was no anganwadi centre or any health centre, she said most of the children of the village were malnourished. "Sixteen children are under treatment at Tata Mines Hospital in critical condition," she said.
Das said 15 persons out of 426 inhabitants were receiving old-age pension, a handful few got ration card. "Whosoever have ration cards, have to walk down around 15km to reach Chingudipal, the nearest motorable point. This speaks about the much-hyped food security given to the endangered primitive tribe," she said.
Similar was the experience for a BJP delegation. "Nagada is the glaring example of apathy and inaction of the Naveen Patnaik government, which has been ruling the state for the past 16 years," senior BJP MLA Rabi Narayan Naik, who led the delegation to the area.
Naik, a tribal leader, said: "It's unfortunate that when the Centre is releasing huge funds for the primitive tribes, the benefits have not reached Nagada."
Of late, the state government has woke up after the hue and cry by the media and the Opposition. The government yesterday set up a task force, headed by the revenue divisional commissioner (central) to monitor the interventions for the overall development of the hilly and inaccessible pockets. "The commissioner will review the progress every week and report to the government," said a government official.
Development commissioner R. Balakrishnan formed the task force based on the report of social welfare director D. Prasanth Kumar Reddy, who visited the village recently.
Five nodal officers will look after five sectors such as food security, health, education, road communication and drinking water facilities, said the official.
