Odisha govt asks collectors to identify 'Nagada-like' villages

In the wake of at least 19 children dying allegedly due to malnutrition in hilltop Nagada village in Jajpur district, Odisha government has asked all district collectors to identify human habitations having zero access to government provisions by August 12, officials said.
"The state government has sent a format to all district collectors to identify villages having zero access by August 12. After identification of such villages, the state government will extend all provisions to these villages it has made for the Nagada village," said A B Ota, revenue divisional commissioner, central division.
Ota is also the head of the taskforce for development of Nagada village.

The state government has also asked the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO), Jajpur, to constitute Self Help Groups (SHG) at Nagada village in order to empower women.
"It is decided to constitute SHGs to encourage community work in the remote villages including Nagada of Sukinda block," Women and Child Development (WCD) secretary Vishal Dev said in a letter to the DSWO.
The DSWO has also been asked to discuss the matter with the residents of Nagada and inform the department after constituting the SHGs.

The state government has been providing small amount of loans to the SHG women under Mission Shakti scheme for encouraging self appointment. Apart from it, the SHGs are being provided funds under different schemes for skill development of women.

Dev said as the SHGs are monitoring nutrition and mid-day meal scheme at local anganwadi centres and schools, the authorities expect that they will help the people of Nagada to fight against malnutrition.
This apart, officials said, the government has decided to impart training to Nagada villagers on bamboo craft so that they would learn to make various products and sell them in the market.
"The villagers would also be trained on animal husbandry, collection and sale of forest produce to make them self-reliant," Ota said, adding that programmes on health care, education, connectivity, food security, light, drinking water, were now being implemented at Nagada village.