Admin apathy deprives poor students of higher studies

JAGATSINGHPUR: Hundreds of economically disadvantaged children, especially those belonging to Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste communities, have been deprived of higher studies due to the callous attitude of revenue and district officials.

Sources said such students are yet to receive residence, income,  caste and other certificates. Hundreds of poor families in the district do not have their own land as a result of which they reside on Government land in different villages. Though the State Government has the provision to provide land patta (land document) up to 10 decimal to the poor, including daily wagers and homestead less families under Vansudharna Yojana, they are yet to get the facility.

Non-issuance of land documents to this category of people has deprived their children of higher studies as they do not have the requisite documents. Hundreds of poor families, including 40 ST families in Markandpur, 30 in Jamugaon, 20 in Charchika bazar, 20  in College Chowk of Jagatsinghpur town along with 150 families in Bharioda, Sompur, Olavar, Parahat and other villages of Balikuda area have settled on Government land.

Besides, hundreds of families in Raghunathpur, Biridi, Kujang, Tirtol, Erasama and other areas of the district have settled on Government land as they have not been given the required documents by the Revenue department despite several appeals.

President of  Dalit Bikash Parishad, Jagatsinghpur Sankar Das had sought the intervention of National Commission for Scheduled Caste, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, project director, DRDA and tehsildars to provide land patta to these families but nothing has been done in this regard. The administration has provided electricity, ration card, old age and widow pension to these families but they are yet to get proper land documents.

Meanwhile, Sub-Collector Subash Chandra Nath Sharma said it is tough to issue caste certificates to these families as they do not have sufficient evidence. “Steps have been taken to provide residential and income certificates to these communities after joint inquiry by revenue officials. The administration has expedited the process to provide land pattas to homestead less families”, he added.

In a lurch
Students yet to receive residence, income and caste certificates
Govt yet to issue land document to poor students
Revenue dept yet to respond to families’ appeals
Intervention of NCSC, CM sought