Cholera toll reaches 171 in tribal region

The Pioneer, Sept 1, 2007
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar

Officials of the State Government Archives (SGA) got an unusual visitor on Thursday. A top mandarin visited the SGA premises to find out the documents relating to the worst 1781 cholera epidemic in Puri. In 1781, during the Rath Yatra, cholera took an epidemic form and wiped out thousands of lives of the devotees.

The book by Peters, JC (1875) titled A History of the Travels of Asiatic Cholera in Asia and Europe cited from Baron, AL (1958), has recorded the incident in details. The mandarin was in search of the steps taken during that period to control the epidemic.

This move clearly exposes the weakness of the State Government, which is clueless as to how to control the cholera epidemic that has broken out in districts of the KBK region. The death toll, according to the health workers engaged in the affected area say, has gone up beyond 200, though the Government records maintain it at 171.

With the development of science and technology, the cholera epidemic had gone out of public memory in the civilised world. "Now that the history is repeated after centuries in modern Orissa with hundreds of tribals succumbing to the killer disease is a shame in the civilised world, which speaks volumes of the incompetence and apathy of the rulers of the State," said a former health administrator.

In 2001, these areas of Rayagada and Koraput districts had become infamous following more than 50 deaths allegedly due to consumption of contaminated mango kernel by tribals. The then Chief Secretary DP Baghchi was credited with a statement, "Mango kernel is a staple food of locals," which created a hue and cry in the media and among political circles. At that time, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had promised a package for the poverty-stricken tribals.

More than a thousand crore of rupees has been pumped in the KBK region by the Government of India, while alleging the Centre's apathy, the Chief Minister has started his Government's own Biju KBK Yojana. The result is for every one to see.

NGOs active in Rayagada, Koraput and Kalahandi districts allege that tribals are dying like flies due to rotten food, contaminated water and very little medical attention. People in the inaccessible areas are forced to drink unclean water, although the district administration has been spending huge funds in the name of accelerated rural water supply scheme (ARWSS) of the Rural Development Department.