The Struggles of Bhawanipatna's Waterlocked Villages: A Call for Change
Challenges Faced by Remote Tribal Communities
In the Kalahandi district, the Thuamul Rampur block is often highlighted when discussing the most isolated and tribal-inhabited regions. This area includes five particularly neglected panchayats: Podapadar, Maligaon, Gopinathpur, Adri, and Talanagi, all of which are surrounded by the Indravati reservoir.
Residents in these villages find themselves heavily dependent on the nearby Nabarangpur district for their daily necessities. The tribal communities often trek approximately 15 kilometers to reach Tentulikhunti in Nabarangpur to obtain essential goods and services.
To make this journey, they utilize motor boats from the canal ghat on the Indravati reservoir, navigating a 500-meter stretch to arrive at Tentulikhunti, the closest town to their isolated homes.
Rudra Harijan and Barun Majhi, two villagers, expressed, “For everything from medical visits to grocery shopping, we travel to Tentulikhunti.”
Reaching their own block headquarters, Thuamul Rampur, poses a significant challenge, as it is situated 60 to 70 kilometers away from their villages.
These waterlocked communities lack basic facilities such as healthcare centers, markets, and a proper road network. In emergencies, including childbirth, patients are transported across the reservoir by country boat, which carries inherent risks.
One concerning consequence of this prolonged seclusion is the erosion of their cultural identity. Although Kalahandi has its unique dialect, the villagers have begun to adopt dialects from Nabarangpur and Koraput districts.
Their only formal connection to Thuamul Rampur is through their Aadhaar cards, which identify them as residents of this block. Despite numerous governance changes, their situation has not improved.
Locals claim that the 24-year tenure of the previous BJD government failed to address their issues, despite persistent appeals, and that political leaders and officials seldom visit the area.
With a new government now in place, the residents of these waterlocked villages hold a cautious hope for change. They await to see if this administration will finally heed their concerns or continue to leave them forgotten and isolated.