“Situation of Malnourished and impoverished Juang Tribes of Nagada Village in Jajpur district, Odisha”

“Situation
of Malnourished and impoverished Juang Tribes of  Nagada Village in Jajpur district, Odisha”

–         
—RTI-based
  Performance
Audit Report ( 2016-2019)—

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.     
First Intervention of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha

  on 12^th
July 2016,  mass media covered news about
19   infant  deaths 
of  Juang tribes  ( Primitive
Tribal Groups)  in Nagada village
coming  under  administrative jurisdiction of Sukinda block
of Jajpur  district. Having been
perturbed over  the news, a 6-member team
of  Right to Food Campaign,  Odisha 
 constituting a  Fact-finding Team  visited 
to Nagada on 15^th and 16^th 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.

 During the  visit,the team observed  that  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. No health institution 
or ICDS project is  available  in the village.  The Team 
has  made a 14-point  recommendations  to the State 
Govt. to  take various  steps 
in the  field of  improving 
their health  condition by
providing 6 months free  food, providing  nutritious 
food  to the  children  
etc. 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 ( please  visit 
the  link  to get 
the  detailed  Fact-finding Report    https://odishasoochana.blogspot.com/2019/06/state-sponsored-murder-of-infants-in.html                   .)

3.     
 2^nd Visit
to  Nagada  to 
monitor  the  intervention of the f State  Govt.

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. to  check 
malnutrition and improve health 
condition of malnourished 
children.   The Team observed  that  
the relief  operation  conducted 
by Govt. has  no way helped  the 
tribals . This half-hazard intervention 
can not  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).

4.      3^rd
Fact-finding Visit of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha

A 4-member Fact-finding Team
of Right to Food Campaign, Odisha  had  visited Nagada village, habitation of Juang
tribes ( Particularly Vulnerable Tribal
Group)  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 members  visited Tala Nagada, Majhi Nagada, Upara
Nagada, met  villagers,  interacted 
with women,  inspected  Aganwadi Centre and health condition of the
children,   assessed  impact of the Govt. programme, their food
security situation  etc. 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  and came out  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)

5.      RTI-based
Monitoring of Intervention of  the
State  Govt. in Nagada village

 Having seen a lot of investment by a
number  of Govt. agencies like W&DC
Dept. Food Supply Dept. Panchayat Raj, Health and Family Welfare  Dept, Forest and Environment Dept. Dept. of V
and ARD etc. 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 free  of cost 
and impose penalty on PIO for 
non-compliance of RTI Application under section 20 of the RTI Act. The
Commission registered  the case  as Complaint Case No. 300/17 and issued 
notice dt. 29.3.19 to the
PIO, DRDA, Jajpur   to explain why  information was  not supplied. On 3.5.19, the PIO has supplied  
information about   detailed  expenditure made against various work  undertaken 
by  a number of Departments. These
are  as 
follows.

6.      Details
of  fund sanctioned  and Activity undertaken in Nagada Village

6.1.           
Health

( Source- CDM&PHO, Jajpur vide letter
No. 2876 dt. 22.4.2019)

6.2.           
Project under IAP for Nagada village

(
Source- Deputy Director, P&S, Jajpur reported on 18.4.19 )

6.3.            
Projects  taken up by
BDO, Sukinda Block  ( IAP less and Interest  money)

6.4.            
CC Road at Nagada ( IAP Less 
and Interest Money )

6.5.            
Project cost details 
of Nagada ( UE-Village) under RGGVY -12^TH Plan RE Work

Infrastructure details 
associated with Nagada electrification 
( total
project  cost  Rs. 1.8 
crore )

6.6.         
Social Security Measures

Out of 570 population of
UIppar Nagada, Majhi Nagada, tala Nagada, Uppar Guhiasahi, Tala Guhiasahi &
Tumuni, 82 beneficiaries  are  getting various pension  like 
IGNOAP, IGNWP, IGNDP, MBPY( OAP), MBPY(WP), MBPY( DP) @ Rs. 300.00 per
month  in the total Rs. 24, 000.00 per
month. ( Source-DSSO, Jajpur).

6.7.            
Construction of Road from Ashokjhar Foot Hill  to Lower Nagada  upto  Dhenkanal Border

Construction of Road from Ashokjhar Foot Hill  to Lower Nagada UPTO Dhenkanal Border  which is at length 7.66 km. The expenditure  incurred towards the above construction is Rs. 1495.64 lakh.  The work has been completed. (
Source- Executive Engineer, RD-1, Jajpur) .

6.8.            
Amount spent under Rural Housing scheme

There  was 
proposal for  construction of 60
nos. of houses  for the people of Nagada
villages  under Rural Housing  Scheme ( BPGY-Mining). All the 60 nos. houses
have been taken up at the cost of Rs. 2,30,00,000.00  and the same  have been completed.  All those houses  have been taken up  departmentally  by BDO, Sukinda. In total Rs. 1,38,00,000.00
have been spent for Nagada people . ( Source- APD(RH), DRDA, Jajpur)

6.9.            
Social Welfare Activities

That after identification of
Nagada issue, 4 nos. of mini AWC has been sanctioned  and operationalized  namely 1. Tala Nagada, 2. Uppara Nagada, 3.
Tumuni, 4. Tala  Guhiasahi. All these AWC
are providing nutritional support like THR Chatua to the  children and pregnant woman & Nursing
mothers  and Hot cook meals to 3 to 6
years children.  Immunization programme
like TT, POLIO, DPT, BCG, MEASLES are providing in every Wednesday in the
Nagada area in every  month.  All the 
households are  provided with
water filter and the people are motivated the benefit of safe drinking water
and use of filter by the AWWs and lady supervisor during their home visit.  All SAM ( Severe Acute Malnourished)  children are referred to NRC, Sukinda &
JAJPUR Road for  clinical treatment.  During 2017-18, 4 nos. of Mining AWC & 1 no. of AWC  building have
been sanctioned amounting 35 lakhs & 7 lakhs for each AWC building under
MGNREGS  under W&CD Dept. But no
expenditure  has been made  as the 
construction work  have not yet
completed. ( Source-DSSO, Jajpur dated 20.4.19)

6.10.         
Horticultural Activities

One  thousand ( 1000) Nos of fruit plants of
different species like Mango, Cashew, Jackfruit, Aonla, Guava,Custard apple,
Jmun, Pomegranate, Bael, Papaya, Drumstick 
and Banana have been planted  in
the land of beneficiaries , also in roadside , also in Govt. land  in the rainy season, ( 2017-18) for better
production and environmental protection. Besides that various vegetable seeds
and seedlings  have been given to the
beneficiaries  in Kharif , 2017-18 for
kitchen gardening in their land  and also
in school area. For the above purpose, a sum of Rs. 5,44,665.00 has been spent from District Mineral Fund ( DMF). (
Source: Asst. Horticulture, Jajpur dated 30.4.19).

6.11.         
Solar Light

127 nos. of Solar home light
and 16 nos. of solar street light system 
have been installed  at Nagada
village. It has been done  by  Chief Executive, OREDA, Bhubaneswar.
Only  a sum of Rs. 13,700.00  have been spent for
maintenance, replacement and repair  of
solar lights which has been made by BDO, Sukinda out of IAP funds. (
Source- Assistant Director, OREDA, Jajpur dt. 18.4.19) .

6.12.         
Supply  of Drinking
water to Nagada village

The  following
project has been taken up by  E.E., RWSS
DIVISION, Jajpur  for supply of water to
Nagada village.

6.13.         
Mid-Day-Meal programme

Fund released  to
Nagada primary  school  for MDM programme is as follows.

6.14.         
Odisha Livelihood 
Mission

118 eligible women
members  have been organized  in 10 SHGs ( Nagada-5 SHGs, Tumuni-2 SHGs and
Guhiasal-3 SHGs) . All the above SHGs have been released Rs. 15,000.00 each as
revolving fund to the bank  account of
SHGs. The SHGs have purchased 50 nos. of goats and two bucks using the
revolving fund. Total Rs.1,50, 000.00 provided
to 10 SHGs  as revolving fund from O.L.M.
Rs.10,000.00  given to 2
families @ Rs. 5,000.00 each of Nagada 
to set up two small grocery shop at Nagada  from SHG federation of Chingudipal GP.  Rs. 90,000.00 provided  to
the  Cluster Level Forum  to meet 
emergency need of the families with an interest of 0-3 per annum charged
by CLF. ( source- DPM, OLM, Jajpur dated
17.4.19).

6.17.Activities under
ARD sector & Expenditure

During 2016-17, Rs. 90,000.00  has been released  for supply of 4 wks old colour birds under
backyard poultry. Rs. 5,000.00 has
been spent towards insurance farmers share 
for livelihood insurance. During 2017-18, Rs. 40,000.00  has been spent  for 
supply of 4 wks old colour birds 
under backward poultry scheme. ( Source- CDVO, Jajpur dated 2.5.19)

6.18.Fund provided by
Odisha Mining Corporation

Financial assistance of Rs.
50.00 lakh has been released  by OMC  for Nagada affected  children in 2 phases. Besides, two Mining
Anganwadi Centre at Tumuni & Uppar Nagada 
have been constructed  by OMC  at a cost 
of Rs. 6,75,000.00  and Rs.
6,80,00,000.00 respectively. ( Source- Sr. Manager Personnel, RO,  dated 2.5.2019).

6.19.Under MGNREGS  & Rural Housing

During 2016-17, 29 no. of
individual project  and 11 community
projects have been taken up  under
MGNREGS  for beneficiaries of Nagada and
Guhiasala villages along with 5 land development projects  and 4 NADEP 
compost  with an estimated  cost of Rs. 70.18 lakh  . 
During 2017-18., 11 no. of projects 
to the tune of Rs. 13.06 lakh  has been   approved . 8000 teak plants planted over 5
ha. Of land in Upper Nagada by Forest 
and Environment Department.

 Total project
sanctioned with estimated budget , mandays generated and fund utilized  

6.20.Fund sanctioned
out  of SSA, Jajpur

( Source- Sr. Consultants, SSA, Jajpur)

6.21.Fund sanctioned by
SC and ST Development  Department

(Source-DWO, Jajpur dated 2.5.19)

(Total amount spent for Nagada village within
3 years is Rs 23.57 crores )

7.  
 Monitoring  of works 
and  verification of  utilization of  fund  in
Nagada  village by 5-member team of Right
to Food Campaign, Odisha

Armed with
RTI information, a five-member monitoring team consisting of Pradip
Pradhan, Mrs. Sanjukta Panigarhi, Jitendra Sahu, Suryamani Mishra and Tapan
Rout, local volunteer 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 has 
estimated   the  physical assessment  of the work 
and how  it  has helped 
the  people.  

A.    Team 
assessed  health  condition of 
Juang children  in  Nagada 
village and  interviewed  the villagers about  their 
present food  habit.  The team members found 8 number of  Juang children  still malnourished.  Their photos are presented below.  Responding query about their food taken by
them each day. They  ( Suniari
Pradhan,  Gaithu Padhan)   said  that  they 
used  to take  rice, dal 
or  rice, salt   in breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Vegetable is hardly available for  them to eat. The same reply received by us  in 2016 when 
we had visited Nagada and enquired to know  about 
their  food aftermath of media
news  about  death of 23 malnourished  children .  the Team also 
noticed  storage  of Mango karnel for  human consumption furing rainy season, time
of  food scarcity. Poverty  and food 
insecurity  still  looms large 
in Nagada  village. Govt.
intervention has totally  failed  to 
bring  any changes  in their 
food habit

1. The Team
reached  at  the 
conclusion that  there  is no 
major  changes  in terms of health  condition of the   children and food  security 
of the tribals.  The children are
still malnourished due to food 
insecurity and the tribals are 
impoverished.  There is no change
in their food  habit  what 
it was  in 2016 . Only  rice 
and dal  or  rice 
and salt  constitutes  their 
staple  food  till today despite  huge 
intervention and  investment  by Govt.

2.  It  is
proved  that  mere development  of  
infrastructure  like  road 
construction, supply  of
electricity , construction of building 
will no way  help   strengthening  their 
food security  and ensured  their 
livelihood. 

3. Half-hazard
development work without community mobilization and understanding their
problem  can never yield  any good result.  For example, within 3 years Rs. 88 .00
lakhs  has been sanctioned  under NREGA in order to provide employment  to the people. But just Rs. 4 .00 lakh has
been spent. Had  this  amount 
been spent by providing work  to
the poor tribals,   it might have strengthened  their food security and ensured livelihood.

4. Road   connectivity   was ensured to Nagada village.  A Biju Bus was plying  from Sukinda 
to Nagada. But after few days , it was stopped.  Now private taxi  is plying 
demanding Rs. 80.00    to and fro
from Nagada to Tata Mines.  For
purchasing 25 kg PDS rice @ Rs.25.00 from Panchayat office, a tribal uses to pay
Rs. 80.00 for taxi fare. No doubt, this is a big financial burden on the
tribals. If the Govt.  could have
delivered  rice at  their 
door step,  it  would have been  better 
for them.

5. Ensuring
portable safe drinking water to Nagada 
is  a big failure  by the Govt. 
This project  is defunct. Water
tanks are lying deserted.  This is complete
wastage of money.

Recommendations

1.    All
the  projects undertaken  in Nagada must  be reviewed 
in terms of its  avowed
objective  and its achievement,
failure  and success. A lesson learnt
workshop  may be conducted   for thorough analysis of these  projects and devise  action plan for  future 
programme.

2.    A
Biju  Gadi ( Biju BUS)  must 
be resumed to Nagada  without  collection 
of taxi fare  from the  villagers 
atleast for one year.

3.    In
addition to supply of PDS rice, Ahara dal, oil, potato, onion and egg to be
supplied to each family at highly subsidized price.

4.    Half-hazard
implementation of NREGA work must be stopped and this work must continue through
out  the 
year . So that the   tribals can
earn and spend money for their food and livelihood.

5.    There
must be campaign to mobilise Juang tribes to stop drinking liquor. It will
be  a great help  to them.

6.    All
the  projects  must 
be  thoroughly  monitored 
by  a special  monitoring 
team  from Bhubaneswar. The Team
will  monitor  all the 
projects  every  15 days 
and present  the  concerned 
authorities  for  action.

Pradip Pradhan                                                                                                 Sanjukta
Panigrahi

M-9937843482                                                                                                   M-9337903294

Date- 10.6.19