Report of Monitoring Team on Nagada Village , Odisha

Report of Monitoring Team  on  Intervention of State Govt. in response to alleged Hunger and Malnutrition death  of  Infants of  Juang tribes in Nagada village  of Jajpur district, Odisha

In the wake of news highlighted by Mass Media about death of 20 infants due to malnutrition in Nagada village of Jajpur district and subsequent public outcry and reaction of opposition political parties accusing state’s mal-administration responsible for such unfortunate incident, the State Govt. responded immediately from 14.7.16 by sending a number of officials to Nagada village to assess the situation of Juang tribes and their children.  Since last 20 days, Mass media has been highlighting a number of steps taken by the district administration in this village to check malnutrition and provide free health service to malnourished children by sending special doctor team and referring them to Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC). Besides that the State Govt.  has also started construction of road to Nagada from Deogaon, distribution of water filter and food materials like rice and dal to each family and installation of Solar Light etc.

Having gone through the news, it was felt by Right to Food Campaign, Odisha to visit Nagada village again to monitor performance of Govt. officials and their intervention to address the issues of hunger and malnutrition, development work, if any taken by Govt.  for the socio-economic development of Juang tribes. It is needless to mention here that a six-member Fact-finding Team of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha had visited Nagada village on   15^th and 16^th July 2016 to ascertain the facts about alleged child malnutrition and suggested the State Govt. to take steps for the development of the tribals. On 18.7.16, the Fact-finding report was also presented to Chief Secretary, Govt. of Odisha, Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, Health and Family Welfare Department, SC and ST development Department and Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Central Division, Cuttack seeking enquiry and quick action by the Govt.  to save the  tribals from hunger and malnutrition.

As decided earlier, a 7-member Fact-finding Team   visited Nagada village on 5.8.16 to assess and monitor performance and intervention of the State Govt.  The Team Members were as follows.

1.              Pradip Pradhan

Member, Advisory Group of NHRC on Right to Food, M-9937843482

2.              Kalandi Mallik

District Convener,  Right to Food Campaign, Jajpur district, M- 9938618390

3.              Biswanath Patra

Human Rights Activist, Sukinda, Jajpur District

4.              Sanjay Nayak

Social Activist, Bhuban, Dhenkanal District

5.              Kali Prasanna Mohanty

RTI Activist, Badachana, Jajpur

6.              Ananta Kumar Das

Member, Odisha Soohana Adhikar Abhijan, M- 9437672036

7.              Hrudanand Mallik

Social Activist, Bhuban, Dhenkanal district 

Visit of the Team

The Team started journey from Deogan village amidst heavy rain at 11 o’clock and reached in Nagada at 2 pm.  The team members spent 4 hours on Hilltop interacting with the villagers, relief team, visiting Medical Camp, police camp along with VHF set up, inspecting various works and materials distributed by Govt.  in the village   and started returning back from Nagada at 6 pm evening and reached at Deogaon, foot of the Hill  at 10 PM covering dark mountainous forest track. This time journey was very tedious, adventurous and memorable for all of us.

1.      Meeting with Govt. official

The Team members found presence of a number of Govt. official and their camps in Nagada village and met the following Govt. officials and volunteers of NGOs deputed by Govt. who have been stationed there to carry out different works entrusted to them in the best interest of Juang tribes.

a.    Sri Asit Nayak of Valid India Trust engaged by Women and Child Development Dept. to identify malnourished children, monitor their health and ensures treatment to malnourished children in collaboration with Govt. Doctors.

b.    Kamala Pradhan, Mini Anganwadi Worker , newly applointed by Govt. to manage ICDS programme

c.    Ms. Manorama Pradhan, Anganwadi worker along with other seven AWWs deputed by Govt. to monitor health of the children, pregnant woman and enforce ICDS service.

d.    Four Police personnel deployed to maintain law and order in Nagada and found playing cards day and night without bothering anything.

e.     Teachers of ASPIRE NGO conducting pre-school and joyful education in Nagada and managing noon food provided to the children funded by T.S.R.D.

f.     Assistant Computer Programmer deputed by BDO, Sukinda Block undertaking survey to identify the families left out of purview of National Food Security Act.

2.      Intervention  on  Child Malnutrition- One Step Forward  

The Team came across a health camp under a tent functioning in the village with appointment of a Doctor, ANM and other para-medical staff. The Team met two volunteers Asit Nayak and Suryakant of Valid India Trust, NGO examining health condition of malnourished children. During interaction with them, it was found that Women and Child Development Dept had engaged them to look into malnourished children. The task assigned to them was identifying malnourished children, monitoring their health, providing nutritious food and ensuring their treatment in consultation with Medical Team. They were also providing EDNRF (Energy Dense Nutrient Rich Food), a nutritious liquid packed food to the malnourished children. There are still 16 malnourished children ( seven Acquit Malnourished  and nine Moderate Acquit Malnourished) identified in the village, says Asit Nayak, VIT Volunteer. On 26.7.16, one 2 year old infant Rebati Pradhan, daughter of Sania Pradhan whose condition is very critical has been referred to NRC (Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre) for better treatment.  The Team came across two malnourished children whose condition was very critical.   

3.      Intervention on ICDS – Just beginning to see the children free from Malnutrition.

The Team came across a team of Anganwadi Workers along with a Supervisor interacting with women and filling up Forms and maintaining Registers in different locations in the village.  While interacting with Smt. Manorama Pradhan, one of Anganwadi Workers’ team deputed to Nagada said that they have been assigned with task of sensitising pregnant and lactating woman about health, child care, breastfeeding etc.  and conducting survey   for newly opened  two Mini Anganwadi Centres. The Team members met Kamala Pradhan, newly-appointed Mini Anganwadi Worker who was found feeding her son 2 years old   only cooked rice without any curry or dal and wanted to know her assignment and how she was discharging her duties. She said that she got appointed seven days back and serving noon cooked food to the children. No breakfast is provided to the children.

4.      Intervention on Food Security- Still Nightmare?

Prior to visit Nagada village, it was   decided by the Team to study minutely about food security situation of Juang people and substantial improvement, if any in their food security after intervention of the Govt. Accordingly, the team members visited three houses and interacted with number of the villagers to know about their present principal food item consumed by them. The Team observed that two people were eating rice and fried leaves, one consuming only cooked rice and salt and a 3 year old child consuming only cooked rice with fried leaves. On query about reason for consumption of only rice and fried leaves, they said that they had nothing to eat. Then, they were asked to know about type of food materials provided to them by Govt.  Mania Pradhan, Kartik Pradhan and other villagers said that the Govt. has provided rice and Mug Dal to each family. On 24.7.16,  5 kg Rice has been provided per person in each family and 2 to 3 kg mug dal has been allotted to each family keeping in view  size of the family by the Govt.  besides that Chuda and Guda has also been provided to each family  which is  hardly consumed  by them.  On query about why they are not consuming dal every day, they said that it will be tasteless. Besides that no food item has been provided to them.

It was also found that few people who have been left out under NFSA are being provided new ration card as Priority Household (PHH). No Antodaya card has been given to them as required to meet direction of the Supreme Court that each Primitive Tribal Groups are entitled to get 35 kg rice per month whatever may be their family size. The people are seen very dull, physically weak and unable to do hard work.

5.      Free Kitchen for children

With support from T.S.R.D., an NGO called ASPIRE is running free kitchen in Nagada village. One cooked meal in every day is provided to 80 children. The food menu served to them was rice, dal and soya chuk curry without any vegetable.

6.       Intervention on  Infrastructure Development

a.The Govt.  has started  road construction work  at Deogaon  to Nagada.

b.  Each family has been provided water flter which has remained inside their house without any use.

c. Solar light has been installed in the village with connection to few families. The work is going on.

d. Construction of two new wells has been started.

e. Dress, sari, fan and mosquito net has been provided to each family.

Analysis and Recommendations

A.             As   there was allegation  of  malnutrition  as reason for death of the children in Nagada village,  the Govt. has taken  it as primary responsibility  to check malnutrition  among the children  by  undertaking series of activity including   deputing  medical team  and opening medial camp  in the village.  Regular health monitoring, providing nutritious food, medicine to the malnourished children, regular treatment, sensitisation activity  by Anganwadi Workers , Opening Anganwadi Mini Centre,  and referring  acute malnourished children to NRC  has been on-going  work  which is a laudable job done by Govt.

B.             The issue of Malnutrition should not be taken as health problem. Rather it is a food security problem.  Due to acute food crisis,   a man remains in hunger and chronic huger leads to malnutrition or starvation death. In Nagada, food insecurity is the major problem which has not been addressed by the Govt. till yet.  Due to lack of purchasing power, the villagers could not purchase any food item for their consumption. So they are seen forced to take only rice, fried leaves and salt. May times, they also could not purchase salt. Remaining hunger and taking only rice has not only weakened their body but caused huge malnutrition among children. The pregnant and lactating women have suffered from several diseases.  To address this problem, the state Govt.  has started  distribution of rice and dal  to  each family.  Dal cannot always be consumed by anybody. The State Govt. has not provided sufficient dal to them.  So finding no other item for food,  they  still  continue to consume same food i.e., rice, salt and fried leaves considered by them as Principal Food, observed  by the Team. It should be kept in mind by Govt or any Non-Govt. Organisations, unless food insecurity issue is addressed,   malnutrition cannot be checked.  The Team also found that noon meal provided to the children supported by TSRD is devoid of any vegetables and egg.

C.             The Govt. has not yet started any labour intensive work for the people. Unless the Govt. starts employment generation work, the villagers cannot earn and continue to depend on Govt. for relief materials.  It is also not practically possible on part of the Govt.  to continue to provide relief to the villagers for months together. If relief is stopped, the tribals will again face same problem and continue to suffer.

Recommendation of the Team

Keeping in view the above situation, the Team makes   following recommendation to the State Govt. and RDC-led Task Force to strengthen socio-economic condition of Juang tribes.

1.      The Team feels that the half-hazard   intervention and relief operation undertaken by Govt.  will no way help the tribals.  Malnutrition can be addressed for some period. But it can not be checked  in long run.  Malnutrition can be checked through strengthening their food security. So besides distribution of rice and dal, the Govt.  should provide  potato, onion, oil, egg and vegetables  as relief materials to each family  in order to strengthen their food security. Rice and dal may not address their hunger problem in the long run.

2.      Free kitchen centre opened for children can be used to provide food to weak and older persons.  This should be provided twice in a day.  Vegetable and egg curry should be food item in free kitchen centre. It should continue at least for 3 months.

3.       The Govt. should immediately start labour intensive work in order to provide employment to the villagers. So that they can earn and survive independently without depending on relief.

4.      Agriculture work, horticulture, plantation programme should be undertaken with the objective to engage them in agriculture activity  for their livelihood.

5.      Road construction work should be undertaken on war-footing way  to ensure quick connectivity to Nagada village which stands as biggest problem for  any kind of intervention  by Govt. or Non-Govt. bodies.

Report prepared by

Pradip Pradhan

Plot No.D-27, Maitree Vihar, Post-Rail Vihar, Bhubaneswar-23

M-9937843482

State-sponsored Murder of Infants in Nagada village , Odisha

State-sponsored Murder of Infants  in Nagada village under Sukinda Block of Jajpur district, Odisha

(A case of Callous, careless and negligence of inept and self-complacent bureaucracy and insensitivity of corrupt political leadership)

-A Fact-finding Report of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha-

Date- 15^th and 16^th July 2016

 

Members of Fact-finding Team:

1.     Sri Pradip Pradhan

Member of Advisory Group of NHRC on Right to Food, M- 9937843482

2.      Sri Sudhir Mohanty, Advocate, Odisha High Court, M-9861063290

3.      Sri Kalandi Mallik, Dalit Activist and District Convener of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha, M- 9938618390

4.      Sri Sanjay Sahu, RTI Activist,  M-8658416694

5.      Sri Debenbdra Kumar Rout, RTI Activist and Local Volunteer,M- 7381939027

6.      Sri Indrajit Mohanta,  RTI Activist and Local Volunteer, M- 9040303126

Report of Fact-finding Team on Infant Deaths, Hunger and Malnutrition in Nagada village under Sukinda Block of Jajpur distrit, Odisha

Introduction

Having been disturbed  over  the news  published  in  different news papers on 12^th July 2016,  about 19   infant  deaths  of  Juang tribes  ( Primitive Tribal Groups)  in Nagada village coming  under  administrative jurisdiction of Sukinda block of Jajpur  district,  the members of Right to Food Campaign,  Odisha  decided  to send  a Fact-finding Team immediately   to  the said  village  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.

Visit of Fact-finding Team

Accordingly, a 6-member fact-finding Team consisting of  Sri Pradip Pradhan, Member of Advisory Group of NHRC on Right to Food, Sri Sudhir Mohanty, Advocate, Odisha High Court, Sri Kalandi Mallik, Dalit Activist and District Convener of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha, Sri Sanjay Sahu, RTI Activist, Sri Debenbdra Kumar Rout, RTI Activist and Local Volunteer, Sri Indrajit Mohanta,  RTI Activist  had visited  Nagada village,  epicentre  of infant deaths on 15^th and 16^th  July 2016.

On first Day, the team reached in Ashok Jhari village of Chungudipal Gram Panchayat at 11.30 am and interacted with Smt. Satya Bhama Dehuri, Anganwadi Worker about status of Angawadi Centre of Nagada village. It took 30 minutes to interview with her. Then, the Team moved to climb Hill to go to Nagada at 12.30 o’clock.  The villagers advised the team not to go to Nagada village, as it will take minimum 6 hours journey (to and fro) and not possible to return back in night in mountainous forest track. However the team dared to climb mountain and covered half of stony track, but could not move further due to heavy rain and confusion about track and timing of reaching at destination. The Time was 3 PM. It was decided to return back and start journey tomorrow at 8 am.  They spent night in near-by village.

On second day, three members got reluctant and scared to go to Nagada village.  However, rest of the Team members Sri Pradip Pradhan, Sanjay Sahu and Kalandi Mallik, Dalit Activist  of Jajpur  district  started journey from Ashok Jhari village at 8.40 am. The mountainous track leading to Tala Nagada village ( village  consists of three Hamlets)  is around 10 kms. The Team took around 3 hours journey to reach at Nagada village and spent two hours there covering all three hamlets and interacting with few Juang tribes  about their conditions and status of their children, health hazards, food security, implementation of food security programme, assess pf Govt. intervention  etc. The Team started return journey at 1.30 pm from top of mountain amidst heavy rainfall which continues upto 6 o’clock. Being suffered physically a lot covering mountain track in midst of rain, the team reached at foot of the mountain at 5 PM. On the way, the Team members also came across visit of many Govt. officials to Nagada village with hesitation. Many officials like Sub-Collector; Kalingnagar was founding returning back without visiting Nagada village. 

Objectives of Visit of the Team

a.    To find out the reason of infant deaths of the village and status of health condition of other children.

b.    To find out status of implementation of food security programme and other welfare measures taken up by the district administration.

c.     To study the socio-economic condition of the Juang tribals, reason of hunger and malnutrition.

d.    To assess the intervention of the administration to address the problem of the people and to heck malnutrition. 

e.    Remedial measures needed to be taken up to address the problem of the tribes in a sustainable manner. 

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 from Chungudipal Gram Panchayat office and around 20 kms from Tata Mining Hospital.  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. The total population of Juang tribe is around 250 with 36 families (the exact information about population could not be obtained, as the Team could not meet Sarapanch). Tata Mining operation is just 15 kms from this area. It was observed that  all the people are thin and short. Almost all children within the age group of 3 to 4 years are seen malnourished.  All of them are illiterate and could not understand Odia language. There is neither Anganwadi Centre nor primary school in the village. A private Chatashali school (pre-primary education centre) is running in the village managed by ASPIRE, an NGO which operates from New Delhi.  No Govt. official except Anganawdi Worker has visited this village within last 10 years, reported by the villagers during interaction with the Team.    

Interview with Satya Bhama Dehuri, Anganwadi Workers of Nagada village

On 15.7.16, the Team members  decided  to meet  Anganwadi  Worker ( AWW)  who  is the lowest functionary  in charge of Management of Anganwadi centre on which  the whole edifice  of ICDS project , most popular  food security programme  designed to  check malnutrition  and provide nutritious food   to the children with age group of 6 months to 6 years  and increase  nutritional standard  of the children, stands. It deserves to be mentioned here that ICDS is one of the most important schemes designed to provide six important services free of cost to both pregnant and lactating woman and children. These are immunisation, supplementary nutritious food, health check up, referral services, etc. On query  about  status  of  implementation  of  ICDS programme  in Nagada village,  Satya Bhama Dehuri, AWW  said “  she  has been working  as Anganwadi Worker from 2007. There is no Aganwadi Centre in Nagada village. One Angawadi Centre is running in Guhiashala, a revenue village which is around 5 km from Nagada village.  There are 56 children within age group of 0-6 years and 11 pregnant and lactating woman  in Nagada village. Nobody gets breakfast and noon meal under ICDS programme. The children and pregnant & lactating woman and children use to  get THR (Take Home Ration) like two packets Chhatua and 8 eggs per month. No immunisation programme has been conducted in the village. Nor Village Health and Nutrition Day is organised in the village since her joining in 2007. Neither Smt. Tilottama Mohapatra, Child Development  Programme Officer  nor Mamata Dehuri,  ANM  has visited  Nagada  to  monitor  ICDS programme  and health  condition  of the children”.  On query  about  frequency of her visit  to Nagada, she said  that  due to long distance and communication  problem, she  could not  go to Nagada village often  but  once or twice in a month. 

ICDS, Health and Sanitation

While observing the whole village, the Team members came across almost all children being suffered from malnutrition. The Team interacted with few tribal women like Turi Padhan, Kamala Padhan, Guri Padhan, Jaina Padhan, Shukru Padhan, Galei Padhan, Maguli Padhan  said  that they usually give birth child  in their house. They never go hospital.  As there is no Govt. medical nearer to village and Tata Mining medical is 18 kms from their village, they never go to medical for treatment. Tuhi Padhan holding her two years baby said that she has four children. No immunisation programme has been conducted. They  are  also  not aware  about  quantity  of Chhatua  and egg  they  are  entitled  to get it.  Whatever quantity of Chhatua and egg  is given by Agawadi Worker,  they take it without checking and questioning it. They use to take egg from Anganwadi Worker once in a month.  On query about Mamata Yojana, it was found that no woman is aware about this scheme and nobody has received Rs. 5000.00 under this scheme. Sanitary environment is very bad. They are hardly aware about sanitation. There is no drinking water facility in the village. They use water from stream flowing through river for bathing and drinking purpose. 

Food Security situation of Juang

The Team has the interest to know about staple food of Juang and common food consumed by them and their children. While enquiring about it, the Team members got astonished to know that they consume only rice, leaves and salt. While inspecting their house, no dal or vegetable like potato, onion and oil was noticed in the village. In case of non-availability of rice, they consume roots. The Team members also noticed woman preparing forest Chhatu (Mushroom collected from forest) to boil with hot water for consumption. They do not have idea about agriculture or horticulture farming.  No Govt. scheme is implemented by Agricultural Dept. for development of farming in the village. They hardly grow paddy and millets and consume it. As they do not have money, they could not purchase food or vegetables from the market.

Status of Targeted PDS

As per National Food Security Act and guideline of  Antodaya Anna Yojana, all Primitive Tribal Groups including Juang are entitled to avail 35 kg of rice per month. But in this village, many families have been covered under Priority Households enlisted under National Food Security Act. In view of number of family members, quantity of rice (5 kg per person per month) is determined per month. A four-member family is getting 20 kg rice under Priority Household category. But if this family will be covered under Antodaya Anna Yojana, they would have got 35 kg rice per month. Faulty survey conducted by Govt. in this village has deprived many families to get 35 kg rice under Antodaya Anna Yojana.  

Status of NREGA

National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme implemented under NREGA has the mandate to provide 100 days guaranteed employment to the families in rural area.   During interaction with the villagers, it was found that they have not got any work under NREGA since last several years. The Team could not notice any job card in the village. It is clear that NREGS work is not being undertaken in the village.

Status of Rural Housing programme

The State Govt. is implementing schemes like Indira Awas Yojana and Biju Pucca Gruha Yojana in order to provide house to the poor and deserving family free of cost. But in Nagada village, the Team could not notice a single house covered under these Rural Housing Scheme. Many of the house constructed out of mud and thatched house are in dilapidated condition and not suitable for living. The tribals also do not have idea about this scheme.

One-day devoted to get Rs. 300/-

On 15.7.16, while the Team members were returning from Hill, they came across a group of older people returning to village. It was raining heavily and time was 4.30 PM.  The Team members halted them and enquired to know purpose of the visit. They said that they had come to receive pension money from Gram Panhayat which is 18 kms from their village. On query about their journey, they said that they started journey early morning and reached at 11 am in Panhayat office.  They had taken only two piece of singada in the whole day without meal. They received Rs. 300 each as pension under Old age pension scheme and returning   to village. They spent whole day covering 36 kms (to and fro) to get just pension amount of Rs. 300.00.

Status of Intervention of Govt. in post-infant death period

During visit, the Team had assessed   steps taken by the Govt. to address the issues relating to infant deaths. As reported by media, 19 infants have already died due to malnutrition.  Primarily, the State Govt. has taken it health hazard and started its operation for treatment of children by sending medical team. Few infants have been admitted in Tata Hospital. Except it, District administration has not taken any steps to improve health and nutritional standard of the children. On 16.7.16, the Team came across host of Govt. officials like Director, Social Welfare, District Child Protection Officer, Member, State Child Rights Commission, Supervisor, ICDS project  and many others visiting Nagada village to assess the situation. Local MLA Sri Priti Ranjan Ghadei had visited the village.   It was felt that the State Govt. could not find the ways to address the problem, because they have remained disconnected from rest of the world. 

It was noticed that a free kitchen has been opened by T.S.R.D. (a social wing of Tata Company) in the village from 14.7.16. Only rice, dal and soya curry without any vegetables like potato and onion is served to the children once in a day. It might have been organised to provide food to the children keeping in view their food insecurity. If it is so, why the vegetables like potato, onion and other curry items were not served to the children. Why food is not served to the villages mostly women who are equally malnourished.

Overall Assessment of the Situation and recommendation of the Team

1.       Sukinda is rich area with deposit of huge minerals like iron, Manganese, chromites worth lakhs of crores of rupees. A number of Companies   like Tata Steel, IMFA, Jindal, Nilahal Ispat are operating, extracting minerals and carrying business in the area.  These Companies make profit of crores of rupees and strengthen their business world out of it.  With profit gained from this area, they lead pump and luxurious life and dream of modern India. The idea behind allowing operation of the companies and setting up of Industry by the State Govt.  is that  with huge investment,  the area will be developed, job will be created and socio-economic standard of the people will be developed, livelihood will be enhanced etc. This is the modern development concept of the Ruling Class.  CSR fund (Corporate Social Responsibility) generated out of profit of the Companies and peripheral development fund will be spent  for development of the area  as well  the  local people. But   it was proved wrong in context of Nagada village. This village is just 15 km from mining operational area of Tata Company which has not yet seen   light of the development. This village still suffers from hunger, malnutrition, drinking water crisis  etc. the tribals area leading  sub-human life without drinking water, electricity, food and lack of road connectivity. Exploiting resources of the area, the Companies, local politicians, MLAs, MPs and officials have been benefitted a lot at the cost of life and livelihood of the local people. Nagada village is one of many villages which are suffering from hunger, malnutrition, unemployment, illiteracy in Sukinda Block. The callous, careless, indifferent attitude of corrupt bureaucracy and insensitivity of political leadership and exploitative character of   Companies have kept the local people out of purview of development in the area.  

2.       Infant death in Nagada village is not only case of health hazard from medical point of view. It is a case of chronic hunger of Juang tribals leading to malnutrition of their children and subsequent death due to lack of medical treatment.

3.       Causalities in Nagada village is due to sheer negligence of the administration in charge of monitoring and implementing various programme. This village has been left out of development project of the state Govt.  for years together.

4.       Many families have not been provided Ration Card under National Food Security Act due  to  irregularities  in survey  conducted by Govt.  to identify  eligible  households.   Secondly, as per guideline of Antodaya Anna Yojana,  all Juang families   deserve to get   each 35 kg  rice per month. Most of Juang families have not  been covered till yet. 

5.       Even after 70 years of independence and in midst of modern industrial development in Sukinda, there is no road connectivity to Nagada village. The tribals use forest track and cover 10 kms by walking to get any service or benefit available under various scheme. Due to lack of road connectivity, they could not bring their children to hospital for treatment. Govt. medical team never visits this area to provide free medical service to the people of Nagada village. The people spend one day ( Rs. 200/-  labour wage per day)  to get Rs. 300/- pension amount under Old Age Pension Scheme.

6.       Almost all development programme and food security programme  like ICDS, MDM, PDS, NREGA, Indira Awas Yojana, Biju Pucca Ghara Yojana, forest development programme, agricultural and Horticultural  development programme  etc.    are not implemented  in the area.   No Govt. official, local politician and Panchayat representative has ever visited the village to monitor any work or assess the condition of the people. There is special tribal sub-plan Juang Development Agency formed to carry out various welfare measures for socio-economic development of Juang tribes. But this agency has no presence in Nagada village which is most vulnerable pocket in Sukinda block.

7.       Food insecurity is a biggest threat to their life and livelihood. The people consume only rice, root and salt without any vegetables added to their meal.  There is no cultivation in the village. Rice available to them under PDS is not at all sufficient to them.  They do not consume any nutritious food. To get nutritious food for the children is distant dream for them.  It was found that every woman and children are suffering from malnutrition.  

8.       ICDS programme, one of the most important food security programme   to ensure nutritious food to the children is not implemented in Nagada village. There is no Anganwadi centre being operationalised  in the village.

9.       No employment generation programme under NREGA has been undertaken in the village since last 10 years.  The people have not got single work under NREGA till yet.

10.   There is no Govt. school in the village.  Due to callousness of the administration, the children have been deprived of getting free education guaranteed under Right to Education Act. As there is no  school, the children have been deprived  of  getting Mid-day-Meal.

11.   The Team also noticed that no Juang family has been allotted forest land patta under Forest Rights Act.  Neither the forest officials nor NGOs have visited the village to sensitise  the villagers  about Forest Rights Act.

Recommendations

1.    Responsibility must be fixed on the officials responsible for implementation and monitoring of development projects and food security programme in this Gram Panchayat and stringent  action must be taken against them.

2.    Few days back, Chief Minister has expressed satisfaction over the performance of Minister for Women and Child Development and Minister for Health and Family Welfare handing their concerned Department. But this was proved false in case of Nagada village. This is not a single case but one of the many cases in tribal region mostly among Primitive Tribal Groups where infant death due to malnutrition and hunger is acute and food insecurity is very high with lack of medical accessibility.   These two Ministers are morally responsible for it and should be dismissed from the Ministry.    

3.    As per guideline of Antodaya Anna Yojana, all the Juang families are entitled to get 35 kg rice per month. In Nagada village, most of the Juang families have been deprived to get benefit under AAY. Responsibility must be fixed on the officials responsible for it and Criminal proceedings must be initiated against them.  The State Govt. must carry out work on war-footing way to ensure 35 kg rice to each family of Nagada village.

4.    The people do not get employment for their livelihood. To provide employment to the poor rural people, the state Govt. is implementing NREGA in rural and tribal areas.  But it was found that NREGA work has not been undertaken in Nagada village since last 10 years. It is case of sheer negligence of BDO, Sukinda and Sarapanch of Chungudipal Gram Panchayat. Stern action must be taken against BDO of Sukinda Block and Sarapanch of Chungudipal Gram Panchayat. The State Govt. should start NREGA work immediately in order to provide employment to them.

5.    The State Govt. should open a special ICDS centre in the village  with appointment of  all staff and availability of all facilities.  A trained Anganwadi worker must be appointed to take special care of Juang children.

6.    Priority must be given for  ensuring road connectivity  to the village. Due to lack of road facility, the Govt. officials could not reach in the village.

7.    Solar electrification  and Drinking water facilities  through  setting up Tube-well  should be done  on war footing way  in the village.

8.    Each Company has huge CSR fund. But this fund is not utilised for development of the people residing around the industrial belt of Kalinganagar.  The State Govt.  should monitor the utilisation of CSR fund  and ensuring  fund  to be utilised for development of tribals  including  Nagada village.

9.    The Team neither prescribes nor subscribes the idea of displacing and rehabilitating Juang tribes in another locality.  They are accustomed with their environment and cultural habit. Displacing them to other areas is not the solution to address their problem. It is fact that they have been deprived to get benefits for years together for which they have suffered.  So, the implementation of   all the development projects under Tribal Sub-plan sheme and Juang Development sub-plan scheme and food security    programme and various activities under Agricultural and Horticultural scheme will no doubt enhance their livelihood and capacity to survive and grow more to compete with modern world.

10. The district administration should start allotting pucca house to all Juang families under Indira Awas Yojana and Biju Pucca Yojana.

11. Exclusive Ashram School  should be opened in Nagada village  to  provide  education  to all the children of Juang tribe.

12. Forest land patta and community forest rights must be given to Juang families on war-footing way.

13.  Nagada issue should be taken as learning for Govt. The State Govt.  should not be complacent with taking few steps  to address the problem  of Juang in Nagada village.  Primitive Tribal Groups are neglected  and surviving  in sub-human condition across the state. The State Govt. must go for complete assessment of the situation   and status of implementation of all development work  in all tribal districts. This is the opportunity for the state  to enhance its administrative capacity to enforce implementation of its plan and programme  meant for tribals across the state.

14.  T.S.R.D. is running Ahara centre to provide only rice and dal to the children once in a day.  This is again half-hazard intervention. Such type of intervention will no way help the tribals. The State Govt.  should open free meal  Ahara centre Rice, dalma and curry mixed with vegetables for twice  in a day  atleast for three months.  Similar kind of Ahara yojana can be opened in other tribal regions where food insecurity is highly acute.  Ahara yojana with Rs. 5/- Rice and Dalma in urban areas should be stopped immediately and it should be diverted to extreme tribal pockets where poverty, hunger and malnutrition is very high.    

Discovery of another Mega Land Scam of KISS , Bhubaneswar

Discovery of  another Mega  Land Scam of KISS , Bhubaneswar

( Exposed  under RTI )

Dear  friends

Much earlier,  we  have  brought  to the  notice  of the public  about  Mega Land Scam masterminded  by Achyut Samant,  founder  of KIIT and KISS, Bhubaneswar, a man having land grabbing  mania and  habituated to adopt  different  tricks  to grab land  through  fraudlent means.  The  information extracted  from CAG report and  obtained  through  RTI   has proved  that  total   111.5 acres  of  the  precious land  ( 82 Acres of land as per CAG Report + 18 acres  of forest land + 11.5 acres of GA  plot ) has been  acquired illegally  and through causing  irregularities     in Chandaka Industrial area,  Patia  and Pathargadia area  by  authority  of KISS and KIIT. Achyut Samant,  presently BJD MP  has masterminded  this  scam  in Bhubaneswar.   Different  tricks  adopted  by Achyut Samant  to grab land  is as follows.

1. First grab  Govt. land without informing Govt. authority  and after  few years of acquiring land, letter  is written to  concerned authority  to   lease  out  same land  in the  interest  of tribal  children. Sri  Samant  has written  such type  of letter  several times  to IDCO  to get  the land.  Though  illegal, IDCO  has allotted  a number  of plots  to KIIT  which  CAG  has  greatly  objected. 

2. Huge  precious forest  land   is  acquired  by  KISS and KIIT  and  palatial building  is constructed  without  knowledge  of  Revenue Dept. and Forest Dept.  Even  Achyut Samant  does not  care  to  apply for diversion  of  forest  land for non-forest  purpose. It  has been  possible  due  to nexus  of  Achyut Samant  with  BJD leaders and State  bureaucracy.  Even after  NGT order, Still  KISS  continues  to acquire  land  with tacit  support  from state  administration.

3.  Most  of the KIIT and KISS  building  are  constructed  without  approval of BDA. Because  the land  does not  belong to KIIT and KISS.

4.  Similarly, private  plots  within vicinity  of KIIT  and KISS  are  forcibly  acquired  by  the  people  of Achyut Samant. They are   forced  to  sell  their  to KIIT . If they  disagree they are  threatened  and beaten up  by goons  of Sri Samant.  Many  learned  citizens  who have purchased  land  are not allowed  to enter  into their  land  by goons of  Sri Samant.  Jagannath Temple  constructed   by Achyut Samant  is  over  the land of  a retired  Professor  who  died  of  heart stroke, as  Sri Samant  does not  allow him to  construct house  over  his  land , adjacent to KIIT  campus.

5. Despite  Court  order, Achyut Samant  does  not  allow private  people  to construct house  over their  own land  due to his  unholy  nexus  with Odisha  bureaucracy,  ruling  class and police.  That  conflict  is quite  visible  in Patia and Pathargadia area.

Recent  discovery  of another land scam  of KISS  is   that  as  per information obtained  from  office of DFO, Chandaka,  KISS authority  has acquired  another  4.032   ha. ( around 11 acres  of land )  revenue forest land  in Mouza – Pathargadia ( Khata No. 2242)  under Bhubaneswar Tahasil.  This  land  has been acquired  by Samant  without  taking any  permission or  approval  from Govt. As  per  provision of Forest  Conservation Act,  any  diversion  of forest  land for  non-forest  purpose  requires  approval  of Ministry  of  environment and Forest , Govt. of India. Forest  Dept.  has not  handed over this  land to KISS.  But  KISS authority  has been showing  this  land  as property  of KISS  and used  this  land to  get  deemed  to be  University status  for KISS.

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 3.6.19