Odisha: Daberi villagers are deprived of basic amenities, threaten to boycott Panchayat polls

Phulbani: Both the Union and State governments have launched several projects and spend thousands of crores of rupees for the development of the villages and the people. However, Daberi village under the Daringibadi Block of Odisha’s Kandhamal district is deprived of basic amenities.

Daberi village is situated 20 kilometers away from the Tajungi Grama Panchayat. Around 300 members of 30 tribal families are living in the village. Forget about the electricity, mobile network connectivity, and piped drinking water supply, the village has no road connectivity. One has to walk around 7 KM and through dense forest to reach the village.

People carry the patients either on coat or sling to reach the hospital. They have to climb ghats for about 7 KM to get five kgs of free rice.

From time and again the villagers have run from pillar to posts to request the concerned officials to get basic amenities. However, their plea has gone unheard.

After failing to find solace from anyone, the villagers have now started to construct roads for themselves. People of all ages have joined the construction of roads.

The locals alleged that several politicians reach the village only during the election time to seek their votes. However, they never return to the village and provide any developmental project to the people after completion of polls.

Therefore, the villagers have threatened to boycott the upcoming Panchayat election.

When asked about the situation of the Daberi village, Panchayat Samiti Chairperson Ruda Malick said that the Government of sanctioned Rs 20 lakh for the construction of roads to the village. However, the work is yet to begin due to COVID restrictions. Hopefully, it will start after the Panchayat election.