Rural Odisha: 81% villages lack drainage facility, swachh gram a 'distant dream'

By A Representative
Despite the Odisha government's efforts to create clean and hygienic villages, a recent survey conducted by the Atmashakti Trust, along with its allies Odisha Shramajeebee Mancha and Mahila Shramajeebee Mancha, has revealed significant deficiencies in basic infrastructure, including damaged tube wells, lack of soak pits, absence of drainage facilities, inadequate cement concrete (CC) roads, and poor toilet facilities.
The survey, which covered 9,696 villages across 866 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in 15 tribal-dominated districts of Odisha, underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of water infrastructure in Odisha to improve the overall cleanliness and sanitation in rural areas. The survey findings are alarming and require immediate action from the government and civil society organizations.
According to the survey, out of the 32,960 tube wells and hand pumps surveyed, 68.25% (18663) of tube wells/hand pumps needed to be in functional condition. While 35.34% (11,648 ) did not have a platform, 5.34% (1,139) of platforms and 27.57% (5,876) of platforms were partially broken. Furthermore, 82.67% (21662) of tube wells had no functional soak pit, which is essential to allow wastewater to seep into the surrounding soil.
The survey also revealed that out of 9696 villages, 80.6% (7816) had either no or improper facilities for water drainage. Also, 34.48% (1,823) of drainage structures, such as pipes, channels, culverts, ditches, and surface drains, appeared to be defunct.
The survey report notes, lack of a proper drainage system can lead to the accumulation of stagnant water, which can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes that can spread diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. It can cause people to fall ill, and experience reduced appetites, leading to malnutrition.
Stating that cement concrete (CC) roads are essential for environmental hygiene in villages as they provide a rugged and durable surface that can withstand heavy rainfall and prevent soil erosion, the survey however revealed that 38.65% (3402) of villages either did not have a CC road or were in fully damaged condition.
Further noting that proper sanitation and hygiene facilities are critical for preventing the spread of diseases and environmental hygiene is crucial to combat malnutrition as it helps prevent the spread of diseases, the report regretted that 30.17% (289,116) of households surveyed lacked toilets. Another 24% of toilets either needed to have adequate water facilities or were not in a condition to use.
"Even after 75 years of independence, it is unfortunate that many rural areas in Odisha lack basic amenities. We have put demands at the Gram Panchayat and Block levels to build the required infrastructure to ensure environmental hygiene and curb malnutrition. Now, we urge the authorities to complete the establishment of these infrastructures before the onset of the monsoon so that water and sanitation-related problems can be resolved," said Anjan Pradhan, Convener of Odisha Shramajeebee Mancha.
---
Click here for more details

The “Dr” debate masks a larger crisis in allied-health education

By Dr P K Gupta* India’s allied-health professions have long operated in a fragmented landscape of universities, hospitals, State authorities and private institutions, each with its own nomenclature, curriculum and standards. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 was meant to correct this by creating a unified national framework for education, professional regulation and institutional recognition. Few dispute the need for such oversight. The real question is whether standardisation is quietly becoming synonymous with longer courses, additional internships and new professional titles—changes that risk masking deeper gaps in clinical training, institutional capacity and affordability.

Pilgrimage or pollution? The waste crisis of Indian faith

By Raj Kumar Sinha* In today's times, there are certain issues that are constantly talked about and discussed, yet no visible impact seems to be made. Beyond water, soil, and pollution, one crisis that continues to be overlooked is waste. Like other life-threatening problems, waste too is gradually moving toward burying and obliterating us. After the Kanwar Yatra in Haridwar, approximately 8,000 tonnes of waste were left behind on the riverbanks, including bottles filled with urine.

Can cow dung become a source of income? Durga Maida shows the path to self‑reliance

By Vikas Meshram* In the Sailana block of Ratlam district lies the small village of Govardhanpura. This is where Durga Maida lives with her husband and four daughters. Their livelihood depended on just one bigha of land—far too little to feed a family of six. Growing enough grain for the year was impossible, and even meeting daily expenses was a constant struggle. Alongside farming, Durga kept livestock and took up wage labour whenever she could. Hard work was never lacking, but income always was. Month after month, the accounts failed to balance, forcing her to borrow. Looking back, Durga says those days felt heavy and hopeless; farming offered no promise, and there was no sign of change. Her story mirrored the reality of almost every small farmer in the area.

Counterview

Search This Blog