Sindhupanka, a neglected village on Usha Devi’s turf

BERHAMPUR: Villagers of Sindhupanka, a hamlet under Surangi panchayat in Chikiti Assembly segment, are deprived of basic amenities even after seven decades of Independence.Though located barely 2 km away from panchayat headquarters, the village is deprived of road, health, education, power and safe drinking water.

Inhabited by 14 families with a population of around 100, including children, the tribals earn their livelihood by collecting minor forest products, particularly firewood, and selling those at Surangi, their lifeline. Surrounded by hills and forest, the tribals have to scale the hill to reach Surangi even for routine work.

In the absence of electricity,  the villagers are still dependent on kerosene lamps. “With no electricity in the area and promises by local leaders for providing power to  hamlet remaining unfulfilled after every election, we have decided not to cast our  votes till our  basic needs are fulfilled,” said a villager.The irony is that the segment is represented by Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Usha Devi, who has been enjoying a Cabinet berth for the last two decades.

Absence of safe drinking water has been a major concern for the villagers. The only open well in the village is virtually running dry failing to meet the requirement of 100 residents. In summer, people depend on a stream flowing about 1 km away from the village. Villagers tread 1 km by crossing the forested hilly path to fetch water. On several occasions, people have fallen prey to water-borne diseases as  water in both the sources is contaminated. With no option left, they are forced to consume water directly.

The literacy rate is abysmally low. The village has no school and about a dozen children in the age-group of 3 to 6 years walk along the 2 km hilly road to reach Surangi to attend school. The village has no anganwadi centre either. Moreover, children have to skip school during rainy season as the kuchcha road becomes unapproachable and parents fear to send their kids fearing harmful insects.

Adding to their woes is poor delivery of PDS commodities. The villagers have been provided ration cards but essential commodities provided to them, particularly kerosene, is inadequate to even light the lamps. As a result, the villagers purchase their additional requirement of kerosene from open market.