Affected villagers stage road blockade for relief

Alleging irregularities in relief distribution, villagers at various places in the district resorted to agitation by blocking roads over the past two days. Though the flood situation has eased, the affected people are still awaiting their share of relief from the district administration.

Sashi Behera, a widow, of Baradwar village under Bhatasahi gram panchayat of Nayagarh block, despite having a BPL card, is yet to receive relief. Her thatched house was destroyed in the calamity.

Similarly, Loknath Kanhar of Pratap Prasad village under Itamati gram panchayat has been deprived of relief material even after the Sarpanch visited his house.

Allegations are rife about relief being provided to those living in ‘pucca’ houses while the actual victims are ignored.  Sarpanches have been accused of preferring Above Poverty Line (APL) families for relief distribution. The affected villagers alleged that the relief materials are given to APL families because they return those to the sarpanch who sells it in the open market.

Protesting discrimination and demanding relief, hundreds of people of Lathipada village gheraoed Nayagarh block office on Sunday. The roads were blocked at Barabati village under Laxmiprasad panchayat and Lathipada, Badapandusar and Itamati under Nayagarh block.

Villagers in Daspalla block locked panchayat offices and at Subalaya village, NH-57 was also blocked. Residents of Kaptapalli and Malisahi under Nuagaon block gheraoed their panchayat offices.On Saturday, roads at Rohibanka and Nandighore under Odagaon block were also blocked and the villagers had demonstrated in front of Ranganipatana gram panchayat office by burning tyres.

They alleged that the office remains closed most of the time and relief materials are embezzled at panchayat level.