Tribals demand development in cut-off areas of Odisha’s Malkangiri district

Reported by Ranjan Rath
Malkangiri, Nov 14:

Defying the Maoist threat, hundreds of tribals from the cut-off areas of Odisha’s Malkangiri district, for the first time, arrived at the district headquarters town on Thursday and submitted an 11-point charter of demands to the collector demanding developmental work in their area.

According to reports, the tribals from Panasput, Andrapali and Jodambara panchayats arrived at Hatapadia after crossing the Balimela reservoir in four special motor launches.

From there, the tribals, led by Panasput sarpanch Arjun Hantal and former sarpanch Ghasi Khara, took out a rally to Malkangiri town.

Later, the tribal delegation met the district collector B Prasant Reddy and SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra and submitted a memorandum.

Alleging that that nearly 25,000 tribals of seven panchayats of Kudumulgumma block in the cut-off areas of the district have been deprived of basis amenities like all-weather roads, electricity, health services and education for years, the delegation urged the collector to take up developmental work in these panchayats with immediate effect.

It may be mentioned that seven panchayats of Kudumulgumma block— Panasput, Andrapali, Jodambara, Sindhiput, Paparametla, Badapada and Nakamamudi—are situated inside the 70 sq km area of the reservoir.

Taking advantage of the inaccessibility, the Maoists have been ruling the roost in these areas.