TNI Bureau: Kalahandi is once again in news for its starvation death. 55-year-old Balo kumar, a resident of Teli Sarahbahili village of Karlamunda Block in Kalahandi, died yesterday allegedly followed by starvation for some days. He is survived by his widowed daughter and a granddaughter.
The angry villagers of Sarahbahili alleged that Balo died due to chronic hunger, and went on to block the NH 217 for 7-8 hours in the daytime. However, after the intervention of local BDO assuring to arrange a home under Mo Kudia Scheme and pension to his widowed daughter and provide Rs 20000 financial help from the Red Cross fund, the mob cleared the NH.
The local MLA and the leader of the opposition Party, Mr. Bhupinder Singh said that ,”there is a government provision that in KBK districts, everybody is entitled to get a Rasan Card under PDS, but how the name of late Balo is skipped.” He blamed the local officers for the failure to implement Government’s poverty eradication programmes properly.
Every year, the government launches various schemes to eradicate poverty, but sadly, the fate of the poor is still unchanged in Odisha, and particularly in KBK districts.