**Kendrapada: ** Writing a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Class X student of a nondescript village in the district here has appealed to facilitate him with a 108 ambulance so that his ailing grandmother could be admitted to hospital.
The perturbed petitioner is a student of D.P.S High School, Padanipala under Aul block here in the district.
The student, named Subhasis Mallick of Kalamada Sasan village under Aul block of this coastal district, has sought the Prime Minister’s intervention because the much sought-after 108 free ambulance service could not be availed by the village due to lack of road connectivity.
In his reactions, aggrieved but sensible Subhasis said, “People in our village suffer a lot. They’re unable to go to hospital. Our village is surrounded by river. The road is kuchcha one. During emergencies, patients are ferried on slings or lifted physically. As my grandmother’s health is very serious, I was bound to write such a letter to Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi. I’ve urged let the 108 ambulance come to our doorstep and take her to hospital. I’ve also appealed to build bridge and road soon.”
Surendra Mallick rued, “In our Kalamada Sasan, Daitaripur, Padanipala, all these three villages have a population of over 5000. No road communication available now. Students have to wade across the muddy patch for which they have been sustaining wounds. There is no facility for a patient to be shifted to medical nor students to pursue education or boat to ferry across. No road, no school, no college in this village. Not even an NMR here for a TT injection or first aid. Had there been a dispensary and bridge, villagers would have been very much benefitted. Administration has turned a blind eye.”
Suresh Mallick complained, “Three villages are reeling under lots of problems. River surrounds the trio. No road communication facility. While rushing patients we use slings or lift by hands and place in the boat. Boat is also not readily available here. We have already knocked the doors of State Human Rights Commission. The verdict was in our favour. We had hoped something would be done and situation would be improved. But, 12-13 years have elapsed, all our wailings and yellings fallen on deaf ears.”
Notably, road communication still eludes Kalamada Sasan, Padanipala and Daitaripur villages under Aul block in this district due to Kani and Kharasrota rivers.
In 2006, the Odisha Human Rights Commission had intervened and directed the State Government to resolve the issue. However, the tardy work progress is allegedly constrained in tender process over the years.
