Motiram Bemal of Nuamalpada village died four years ago after remaining crippled for a few years due to fluorosis. “I was six-month pregnant when he left us. We are Sukhbasis (don’t have land or any other assets), not even a house to stay. How can I feed my two children without Government support,” asks Motiram’s wife Gayatri (28).
She says that her application for widow pension has not yet been sanctioned by the block office. “Please help me get my widow pension, take pity on these two little orphans,” pleads Gayatri.
Gharmani Bemal of this village is already 75. She cannot walk properly without the support a walking stick. Her pension application is also pending with the block authorities for past several years.
Impact of fluoride is clearly visible on Dhwaja Hans, a 12-year-old boy of this village. He has been issued a ‘handicapped’ certificate with 80% disability, but his application for financial assistance is yet to be sanctioned.
There are many others in such condition in this village without getting any support from the Government. “Almost all the people here are under the clutch of this crippling disease,” says Mathura Rautray, one of the affected women.
Nuamalpada village is one of the 905 fluoride-affected habitations of Nuapada district where people are suffering from fluorosis since long. Government records reveal that the groundwater in this village has fluoride content of 4.00 mg/L, which is far above the permissive level (1.5 mg/L).
“Most of our villagers die after being crippled by this disease, but none of us gets any support for treatment,” say the villagers. Nakula Harijan of the village is unable to work due to skeletal fluorosis. Swelling joints and week limbs of Nakula give a clear indication that he might crumble at any moment.
“But the doctors did not give me a ‘handicapped’ certificate although I am unable to work,” he laments. The certificate could have helped him get Rs 500 per month under the pension scheme for disabled persons.
Many other people of this village are in similar conditions, but they are neither getting proper treatment nor any financial support to arrange food for their sustenance.
Nuamalpada is at a distance of 20 km from the Community Health Centre at Sinapali. “What is the use in getting treatment there? Medicine does not work,” react the people. “We need safe water that will help our children stay safe,” says Bhagna Bemal of the village. “Ask the Government to complete the pipe water supply project as soon as possible,” he pleads with visiting journalists.
The Government is constructing a PWS project to supply water from a stream which would cover five habitations of two villages of Nuamalpada gram panchayat.
“Construction of the overhead tank and laying of pipes have already been completed. We have also fitted stand-posts in all habitations except Beragi Pada, which will be done in next one week,” said Sagar Biswal, Junior Engineer of the Fluoride Project.
The villagers, however, demand justice from the Government. “The Government has neglected us for long, which has resulted in destitution of a large number of people of our village. Who will compensate the loss we have suffered due to the impact of fluorosis,” they ask.