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"In order to succeed, we tribals need a sense of self-efficacy, to struggle together with resilience to meet the inevitable obstacles and inequities of life. We should always remember that striving and struggle precede success, even in the dictionary."

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Friday, June 20, 2008

Health funds unspent in tribal Orissa

The living conditions of the tribals in Koraput district are pathetic. There are no proper medical health centres. Though fund have been alloted to build a health centre, work is still in stand still, due to lack of commitment by officials.

Lack of commitment of medical officials who are working in the district, lack of communication facilities, shortage of staff, non-development of existing Primary Health Centres forced the poor tribals to die for not getting medical treatment on time. A visit to remote tribal villages under Dasamanthpur, Semiliguda, Pottangi, Bandhugaon and Laxmipur blocks in Koraput district has exposed the miserable condition of the tribals living in the villages. Cent percent of the Primary Health Centres are functioning without a proper MBBS doctors’ presence and some centres are functioning only with mere pharmacies. Unnatural deaths of tribals occur mostly among children who are below five years. Some of the doctors after completion of their MBBS, posted in government service serve for a period of three years which is mandatory in the district and leave immediately after obtaining the service certificate from the authorities for higher education or better paying hospital in corporate places.

Unnatural deaths of tribals occur mostly among children who are below five years of age. According to the official source of information for every 1000 live births 251 die within five years. Unofficial figure, the infant mortality is 300 for every 1000 live births in Koraput district alone. While 60 per cent of the villages in Koraput district do not have drinking water facilities. The government health inspector says that it took years to create awareness among the tribals. Over the last two decades 15 lakh tribals in undivided Koraput district alone died. District chief medical officer had to return Rs12 cr without being spent meant for health service in divided Koraput district.

The Rs 12 cr have been received from National Rural Health Mission, Koraput district. This district had also received a grant of Rs 5.5 crores in 2005-2006 financial year for the new born and Rs 4.7 lakhs for supporting tribal health in the district. Due to lack of commitment by the scheme implementing agencies, the money meant for construction of new health sub-centres and repair of existing Public Health Centres were partly spent and the rest of the money is kept locked in the bank.

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