Medical infrastructure suffers in Maoist infested area in Orissa

Rayagada, Mar 11 (ANI): The increased Maoist menace in Orissa's koraput District has led to the lack of availability of hospitals for the local tribal populace residing in the area, compelling them to travel long distances to avail such facilities.

The tribals in the district are facing great difficulties to avail themselves of medical attention, as there is a lack of hospitals in the area.

The worst affected are the Nagarpatna and Bandhugaon blocks, which is far away from the district medical hospital at Koraput town.

The medical system that was earlier prevalent here has collapsed due to the increased Maoist insurgency in the area.

Most of the villagers from this area are now going to the Rayagada medical hospital, which is in the neighbouring Rayagada District that falls nearer to the area.

The worst hit are pregnant women of the area, who have to travel quite a distance to reach the hospitals.

Nabkishore Kundu, a doctor at the Rayagada hospital, said that they were facing a lot of problems due to the overflowing number of people who were coming in for treatment.

"From Nagarpatna block and Bandhugaon block, most of the delivery cases are coming at crucial moments to this hospital. In our hospital, the bed capacity is very less and they are overburdening our work. And because the distance from Nagarpatna and Bandhugaon block to Koraput is far, that is why people are coming to Rayagada for their treatment," said Kundu.

The tribal people of the area say that due to Maoist fear no doctor wants to come here and no proper public transport system exists.

"No public transport system is working properly in our area due to the Maoist menace. People are scared to go to that side. At the time of emergency also we don't get any vehicle to commute. Doctors also are not coming here due to the Maoists' fear," said Maheswar Bania, a local villager.

The Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly a third of the country in its violent tentacles, spreading into the interiors of 20 of India's 28 states. This comes despite strong measures initiated by the federal government in eradicating the ultras. (ANI)