In a compelling instance of the challenges faced by tribal communities in remote areas, a 48-year-old diarrhoea patient named Badnaini Kumar from Karri Goda village in Gumma panchayat, Visakhapatnam district, had to be carried by villagers for 8 kilometers on a makeshift doli (improvised stretcher) to reach the nearest accessible point. From there, he continued in a private auto-rickshaw to S. Kota Government Hospital for urgent medical care. Kumar, weakened by vomiting and diarrhoea, represents many in his tribal community who struggle to reach healthcare facilities due to the lack of roads and infrastructure.
The government has allocated ₹7.5 crore to improve access for villages such as Karri Goda, Kattarevu, Kottungoda, and Kalyan Gummi by constructing roads. The District Level Committee approved the project in August, yet the construction remains stalled as the forest department has not issued the necessary permissions to build roads through forest areas. For residents of these remote villages, the lack of infrastructure means that basic medical emergencies often turn into life-threatening ordeals.
Tribal people from the region have appealed to forest officials, urging them to grant permissions that would allow for the much-needed road construction to commence. The roads would not only provide faster access to medical facilities but also ease the daily challenges faced by these communities, who currently have limited connectivity and access to essential services.
This situation underscores the pressing need for balanced development that respects both environmental conservation and the welfare of indigenous communities.
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