Lack of awareness hinders Nabarangpur development

Development still eludes the tribal-dominated district following lack of awareness among the inhabitants while illiteracy and poverty rule the roost here. Carved out of the undivided Koraput district in 1992 during the then Chief Minister Biju Patnaik’s regime, Biju Babu’s sole motive was to provide better administration, promote education, agriculture and social-economic development of the tribals. But, the dream of late Biju Patnaik is yet to be materialised. Though the Government sanctions funds through various programmes and schemes for the development of the tribals here, improper utilisation of funds and implemention of the programmes have resulted in no remarkable development despite being a separate district for over a decade-and-half. Frequent droughts and callous attitude of the Government mechanism here have rather failed to check migration to other States for eking out a living and falling prey to the inhuman labour contractors. It is well-established that a large number of Bangladeshis immigrated to this district and are illegally settled here posing a security threat. The State Government has identified a number of such families, but yet to initiate any positive actions for their deportation. They have been receiving political patronage due to the vote-bank politics following which they have been emboldened to grab the land of the poor tribals and even managed to get a Government job. The violence of 2001, between the tribals and the Bangladeshi immigrants in Raighar block, reflects complete failure of the administration in dealing with the problem. The tribals are still under the shadow of development, the basic needs like food, education, healthcare, water and electricity are yet to reach many a village. The Centre and the State have launched different welfare programmes and to educate the general public on the programmes, huge amount is being spent. Despite the fact, a majority of the people are not aware of the programmes launched in their own district. They think that the Government launched programmes are being properly implemented by the officials. The gullible lot even fail to find how the officials indulge themselves in corruptions and some of the works being made on pen and paper are just an eye wash. Initiative for awareness among the people is highly essential in the district and the administration should take steps in this regard. It is high time the people should come forward to use their rights to know about the programmes and its progress. Incidentally, the Right to Information Act is one such powerful weapon to bring transparency in this regard.