Villagers cross stream sans culvert

Even after 70 years since independence, many villages of Subarnapur district have remained as backward as before, in the absence of basic facility.

In the absence of a culvert, Kukia villagers in Ulanda block still have to cross Menaka Nullah as a routine affair. The school going children have no other way to reach their school while the villagers have to fae a lot of difficulties in coming outside their villages, including the Panchmahala gram panchayat office for daily needs. Children go through the ordeal for six month a year. Sadly, the administration has failed to take note of the children’s plight.

During monsoon, the villages get cut off from mainland. The lack of communication also deprives the residents of the Government’s welfare measures. While many students opt to stay back home during the four months of monsoon, those who dare step out risk their lives as they cross the nullah on foot, sources said. The State and Central Governments have been implementing a host of schemes to boost education, but those seem to be futile for Kukia village, they lamented.

Gobinda Chandra Pandia, a villager said, “Our village has not got even the basic amenities of the day.”

We do not go to school in rainy season as water comes up to our neck, said Smita Manjari Podh, a student.

Locals have long been demanding a culvert over the nullah for their convenience but no steps have been taken in this direction. They demanded an immediate construction of culvert over the nullah. While contacted, Birmaharajpur MLA Padmanabha Behera said, “It is a crying need of the area to have a culvert. I will certainly take immediate steps.”