Civil
Society Intervention Updated
“Status of Govt. programme undertaken to
address Situation of Malnourished and impoverished Juang Tribes of Nagada
Village in Jajpur district, Odisha”
A
Monitoring Report-
Prepared by:
Right to Food Campaign, Odisha
1.
Nagada
Village- A Nightmare
Nagada, a revenue village and
habitation of Juang Primitive Tribal Groups is surrounded by mountainous forest
from all sides. It is 18 kms away from Chungudipal Gram Panchayat office,
around 20 kms from Tata Mining Hospital and 30 kms from Sukinda block of Jajpur
district, Odisha. There is no road
connected to the village. Rocky mountainous track is the only path and medium
of communication for the tribal people
from their village to Gram Panchayat and rest of the world. There is another village named Guhisala
located in the mountain. These two villages comprises of six hamlets namely
Guhiasala ( Taladiha), Naliadaba, Upper Nagada, Majhi Nagada, Tala Nagada and
Tumuni. Total population of the village is 579 and child population 273 ( 0-5
years -127 and 6-14 years-146 ). Tata
Mining operation is just 15 kms from this area. Agriculture and allied activity
are the main source of livelihood of the villagers. They use to grow paddy with
local variety and they are well acquainted with “Podu Chasa” (shifting cultivation)
and they depend mainly on local breed goat, buffalo and poultry for livelihood.
2.
Why so
much Discussion about Nagada ?
On 12th July 2016, After coverage
of mass media about death of 19
infants of Juang tribes
( Primitive Tribal Groups) in Nagada village coming under
administrative jurisdiction of Sukinda block of Jajpur district, the State witnessed
spontaneous public reaction with the
opposition political parties and Civil Society Groups coming to the street in protest against callous
and indifferent attitude of the State Govt. to take care of tribal children. The opposition parties also
demanded resignation of Chief Minister. Host of Govt. officials, political
leaders and media started visiting
Nagada village to see the exact situation of Juang tribes.
3.
Intervention
of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha – In
Chronological Order
A.First Visit on 15th
and 16th July, 19
As the organization works on issues
to hunger, malnutrition and Right to food , it was thought of sending a fact-finding team to
Nagada to understand ground realities which led to death of 19 infants . a
6-member team visited Nagada on 15th and 16th July,
2016 to assess the situation of alleged infant death due to malnutrition,
reason of infant deaths and rise of hunger and malnutrition in Nagada village,
socio-economic condition of Juang tribes, status of implementation of food security
Programme and necessary steps required to be taken up in future to combat the
problem. The Report of the Team was shared to media and presented to Chief
Secretary, Odisha (18.7.16) , Governor, Odisha ( 18.7.16) and Chairman of Task Force-cum- Revenue
Divisional Commissioner, Central Zone, Cuttack ( 20.7.19) with plethora of
suggestions for immediate interventions. ( please visit the
link to get the
detailed Fact-finding Report https://odishasoochana.blogspot.com/2019/06/state-sponsored-murder-of-infants-in.html)
B. Second Visit on 5.8.16
Having been pressurized
by public reaction against Govt. , a lot
of intervention was taken by District administration with appointment of
Special Task Force under chairmanship of Dr. A.B.Otta, , RDC, Central Zone. In view
of so many Govt. intervention in terms of starting from distribution of nutritious food to
stationing special health team to provide immediate health service to tribal
children, a 7-member Fact-finding Team visited Nagada village on 5.8.16 to assess
and monitor performance and intervention of the State Govt. to check malnutrition and improve health condition of
malnourished children. The Team
observed that the relief operation
conducted by Govt. is no way helping the
poor tribals. This half-hazard stereo-typed intervention without any
commitment cannot check malnutrition in the village in
the long run. A detailed Report with a lot of recommendation was presented to State
Govt. and RDC, Central Division seeking appropriate intervention in Nagada
village. ( The
report is available in this link https://odishasoochana.blogspot.com/2019/06/report-of-monitoring-team-on-nagada.html).
C. Third Visit on 17.2.17
After few months gap, it was decided by the organization to visit
Nagada village to assess the situation of Juang tribals and their kids. A
4-member Fact-finding Team visited Nagada village on 17.2.17 with the objective to assess the socio-economic
condition of Juang Tribes, health condition and nutritional standard of the
children, status of development work, changes, if any in the life of the people
after intervention of the Govt. of eight months. Earlier, the road to Nagada was rocky and
inaccessible. But during visit of the team, there is little bit improvement in
the communication to the village
due to
construction of new road by the Govt. However, The Team takes two hours to reach
Nagada village. The
Team made a detailed
study of situation of
food security tribals, status of
distribution of forest land
patta, functioning of Anganwadi Centres, road
connectivity and status of Primary school etc. the Team came across a lot of issues relating to
drinking water, electricity connection , non-construction of Anganwadi
building, drinking water problem etc. and came out with certain recommendation which was
presented to Govt. for improvement. ( Report
is available in https://odishasoochana.blogspot.com/2019/06/3rd-fact-finding-report-on-nagada.html)
D. RTI-Intervention with Follow-up fourth Visit on 8.6.19
RTI Application was filed on 31.10.16. to the PIO, Dept. of Women
and Child Development, Govt. of Odisha seeking
detailed expenditure made
for carrying out various
work in Nagada and Guhiasal village. RTI
Application was forwarded to the PIO, DRDA, Jajpur to provide information. But the PIO did not supply any information.
On 27.6.17., a Complaint case was
filed in the office of Odisha Information Commission seeking direction to the
PIO to supply information. The Commission registered the case as Complaint Case No. 300/17 and issued notice dt. 29.3.19 to the PIO, DRDA, Jajpur. On 3.5.19, the PIO has supplied information about detailed expenditure made against various work
undertaken by a number of Departments. a five-member monitoring team visited Nagada village on 8.6.19. to verify
whether fund has been properly
utilized sanctioned against each project by various line departments and how
huge investment helped checking
malnutrition and ensured food security
of Juang tribals. The Team
has limitation in respect
of monitoring of
technicality of many
development work undertaken in this village due to lack of knowledge of technical
know-how and expertise. The Team estimated the physical assessment of the work and its
support for amelioration of the tribals. The Team found huge irregularities and
misappropriation of fund in the village. The details of report is available https://odishasoochana.blogspot.com/2019/06/situation-of-malnourished-and.html
E.
A Complaint case in Lokayukta and follow-up Fifth Visit on 31.10.19
On 14.10.19., a Complaint
case was
filed in the office
of Lokayukta along with RTI information and Inspection Report of
Fact-finding Team seeking investigation
into entire fund utilized
by various Govt. agencies in Nagada village alleging corruption and misutilisation of fund. Office
of Lokayukta has already issued notice
to Project Director, DRDA, BDO, Sukinda, Executive Engineer, R & B,
Executive Engineer, Electrical, Executive Engineer, RWSS, DSWO, Jajpur seeking
reply fixing next date for
hearing on 9.12.19 which has been extended to 13.1.2020.
4. A four-member Team of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha consisting of Pradip Pradhan,
Jayant Patra, Jitendra Sahu, Kalandi Mallik
visited Nagada village on
31.10.19. to assess progress of development work , if any
for socio-economic condition of
Juang tribes. The Team members verified the works for which huge fund has been
utilized as per RTI information and came across others issues relating to hunger and malnutrition which remains unaddressed by Govt. for years together despite investment of Rs.
23 crores. These are as follows.
A.
Low quality of Housing
As per RTI
information, 60 no. of houses have been constructed at the cost of Rs. 1,38,00,000.00 for Nagada families. A sum of Rs. 2.30
lakh has been spent per house.
The total no. of houses
counted and quality of house was verified by the team. It was observed
that most of the houses are substandard with low quality of work. The
villagers also complained of low quality of work which requires investigation whether
fund has been properly utilized. A beneficiary is appraising the team members
about low quality of work of his house.
B.
Malnutrition-
Still looms large
RTI information reveals that within
last three years, the Govt. has spent Rs. 12,18,981.00 against
sanctioned amount of Rs. 27,01,850.00 for treatment
of children, functioning of NRC ( Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre),
Maternity waiting home etc. This expenses was for
effective treatment of malnourished children in order to check malnutrition permanently. During field
visit, the team noticed few children suffering
from malnutrition. The details is
as follows.
|
Sl.No.
|
Name of Child
|
Age
|
Name of parents
|
|
1
|
Sambhari Padhan
|
One year old
|
Shukri Padhan and Gobind
Padhan
|
|
2
|
Malati Padhan
|
14 months old
|
Sadhabani Padhan and Dhaneswar
Padhan
|
|
3
|
Debanand padhan
|
One year old
|
Andari Padhan and Bikram
Padhan
|
|
4
|
Kathi Padhan
|
Eleven Month old
|
Laxmi Padhan and Sunian
Padhan
|
|
5
|
Madhia Padhan
|
3 years old
|
Kanthuli Padhan and Ganapati
Padhan
|
A 3 year old son Madia (Father- Ganapati and
Mother –Kanthuli Padhan) was seen suffering from malnutrition. His picture is presented
below.
C.
Drinking
Water-Still distant dream for
villagers
The RWSS, Jajpur has spent
Rs. 53.56 lakhs out of Rs. 66.44
lakhs sanctioned for drinking water
projects in Nagada village.
But it was
found all the projects
are defunct. Water pipes are lying scattered hither and thither. Not a single house
gets piped drinking water
in Nagada. Water filter
is used for storage of rice and Biri. This project is in state of paralyzed
condition. The Team noticed women
going to streams to fetch
water for drinking purpose.
D. Non-Construction of Anganwadi Centres
Though three years passed, the
Govt. could not construct Anganwadi
centre despite sanction of fund. One make-shift house constructed by OMC at Uppar Nagada at the
cost of Rs. 6, 80,000.00 was
found destroyed during Fani
cyclone and another one at Tala
Nagada which
has been made by Tata Steel was
found functioning. The children are
seen sitting on verandah of house of
AWW and food being served in the street in Uppara Nagada. The Team found that low
quality of Chhatua and Badam Ladu ( ladu prepared of ground nut and guda) is distributed among the
children and mothers.
E.
Road
construction is in bad shape.
As per RTI Information, A sum
of Rs. 15 crores has been spent for construction of road from Ashokjhar Foot
Hill to Lower Nagada upto Dhenkanal
Border which is at length 7.66 km. But the
road to Nadaga is in bad shape. Due to low type of work and construction, the road got washed away during
last rainy season.
F.
No
Electricity in Nagada village
As per RTI
information, total amount of Rs. 1.8 crore has been spent for electrification in Nagada village. 60 BPL families have been given connection.
But during field inquiry by the team, it was found that electricity connection
has not been made to any household in all three Nagada villages till yet. Electricity motor, main switch, wire are seen
gathering dust in the field. There is no
electricity in the village till yet.
G.
No
work provided under NREGA
During
interaction with the villagers, it was asked to them about man-days provided to
them under NREGA. The team members verified their job card and found blank. The
villagers Sunia Padhan, Gaura Pradhan said that they had not got any work under
NREGA since 6 months. As per RTI
information, during last 3 years, only
4.64 lakhs has been utilized
generating mandays of 2654 against sanctioned amount of Rs. 88.04 lakhs.
H.
Staple Food for Villagers – still Rice, salt and Forest leaves ( Jungle Saga)
The team came across the
people eating rice, salt and leaves (Saga) only as their food. On query about consumption of food by
them, the women Kantuli Padhan, Laxmi
Padhan said that they used to take rice, Saga (leaves) and salt as their food.
It was found that each family gets 35 kg of rice per month under Antodaya Anna
Yojana . When asked about
non-availability of vegetables, dal in their food, they said that they could
not purchase it due to want of money. As there is no work, they could not earn
anything and depend on Govt. rice for survival. However Govt. Rice
does not fulfill need of the family consumption, as the whole family
depends on only rice which is consumed four times in a day.
5.
Intervention
of National Human Rights Commission
On 2.9.19., Sri Akhand, Human Rights
Activist had filed
complaint to National Human Rights
Commission , New Delhi
alleging failure of Govt. of Odisha to check malnutrition among children in Nagada village. Despite expenditure of more than Rs 22 crore on
development of infrastructure in Nagada since
2016, the condition of the primitive tribals living there has not yet improved. Registering the
complaint case no.
2789/18/24/2019, the Commission has noticed
to Chief Secretary, Odisha on 3.10.19
seeking Action Taken Report on the allegation made by Sri Akhand within four weeks.
6.
Analysis and Recommendations
Nagada drew attention of the
people of Odisha due to death of malnourished children and acute hunger. The
public outrage and street demonstration which was manifested after incidence of
death of 19 malnourished children pressurized the state Govt. for immediate
intervention. Formation of Task Force under chairmanship of RDC, Central
division and series of visit of Govt. officials, relief operation by engaging a
number of NGOs and investment of huge money along with starting of development
work gave an impression that the State was committed to fight out hunger and
malnutrition in this village. But after 3 years, it was found that the tribal
of Nagada are still suffering from hunger and malnutrition. Staple food is rice
, salt , forest Kanda and forest leaf which they have been consuming since several years. Govt. intervention could not
change even their food habit. Little infrastructure development work in Nagada
village contributes to income and wealth of few contractors and Govt. officials
at the cost of livelihood of the tribals. The practice of such type of
development concept ( so-called huge investment with develop the economy of the people) has no way helped
the tribals rather made their
socio-economic condition worst. Keeping in view overall situation of Nagada
village, we make the following suggestions for hunger-free Nagada village.
A. It
is wrong notion that Supply of rice at subsidized rate under PDS can successfully
check malnutrition. Supply of 35 kg rice to each family in this village has
failed to check hunger and malnutrition among Juang tribe. Due to serious
financial crisis and lack of employment, they are forced to depend on only rice
and salt for household consumption as staple food. We propose that in addition to rice, Potoato, oil and onion can be provided under
PDS at subsidized price. .
B. Lack
of employment is the major problem in the village. Despite availability of huge fund, no
development work is undertaken by the Block administration. Job card was found
blank. So it is suggested that year-long NREGA work with 200 days guarantee
must be undertaken by the Govt. in
order to provide employment to the
villagers.
C. The
villagers have been distributed forest land patta. But nobody knows location of
land, as it has not been demarcated nor identified by the forest officials. So
effective steps needs to be taken to hand over land to the villagers. And
constant activity must be
taken by the agricultural
department to train the people about
cultivation and paddy and
vegetable cultivation.
D. Anganwadi
centres are not running well in the
absence of own building infrastructure. Food is not properly distributed.
Anganwadi Workers are ill-trained
to manage the centre. The Team
suggests that NGOs
can be entrusted to provide support service to AWW
starting from monitoring of health to immunization, pre-school
education and feeding in the centre.
E. The
team noticed supply of low quality Chhatua and ladu among the beneficiaries. We
propose for spot inquiry by the
officials and Stern action must
be taken against the supplier i.e., woman SHG .
Report prepared by
Pradip Pradhan Sri
Akhand
M-9937843482 M-
7008816891
25.12.19
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