Updating Civil Society Intervention to address Child Malnutrition issues in Nagada Village
Civil
Society Intervention Updated
Society Intervention Updated
“Status of Govt. programme undertaken to
address Situation of Malnourished and impoverished Juang Tribes of Nagada
Village in Jajpur district, Odisha”
address Situation of Malnourished and impoverished Juang Tribes of Nagada
Village in Jajpur district, Odisha”
A
Monitoring Report-
Monitoring Report-
Prepared by:
Right to Food Campaign, Odisha
Right to Food Campaign, Odisha
1.
Nagada
Village- A Nightmare
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.
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 ?
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.
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
Intervention
of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha – In
Chronological Order
A.First Visit on 15th
and 16th July, 19
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)
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).
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)
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
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
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.
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.
