Agency takes up banana plantation for tribal development

A remote village in the tribal-dominated Kandhamal district in Odisha is buzzing with activity for economic uplift of the backward region with the help of a banana plantation.
The Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Baliguda, has taken up a banana plantation on 20 acres with the involvement of 67 odd families of Gumudumaha village which made headlines in July, after five villagers including a child were killed in firing allegedly by security forces.
The agency will also dig up wells to provide water for irrigation, said officials.
"We have decided to take up a banana plantation in the village. We will dig eight wells for irrigation purpose and also to mitigate water shortage in the village," said Ramesh Chandra Behera, Project Director of ITDA, Baliguda.

Behera said around Rs 14 lakh would be spent on the project.
"The economic condition of the tribal people of the village is likely to change with the cultivation of banana," he added.
The government had faced criticism from different quarters, including opposition parties, civil societies and rights activists due to the lack of infrastructure facilities like drinking water, road communication, healthcare in the village.