Protest for Basic Road Facilities
A half-naked protest staged by tribal residents of the Jarada Panchayat area, demanding basic road connectivity to their villages, has sparked widespread discussion. The protesters expressed anger that despite facing severe difficulties for years due to the lack of proper roads, neither the authorities nor the elected representatives had taken their plight seriously.
Seven Villages Struggle Without Proper Roads
The tribal residents said people in Jarada, Gedda Guda, Mulaguda, Gummidiguda, Podidam, Pattaigedda, and Kambamanuguda villages have been suffering due to the absence of proper road facilities.
They said the situation becomes particularly difficult during the monsoon season, when roads become almost inaccessible and movement between the villages becomes extremely challenging.
Patients, Pregnant Women Face Severe Difficulties
The villagers said transporting sick people to hospitals has become a major challenge due to the poor road conditions. Pregnant women and elderly people are also being forced to risk their lives while travelling during medical emergencies, they alleged.
The residents said they had repeatedly approached officials seeking a basic road facility, but their appeals failed to bring any concrete action. With their grievances continuing to be ignored, they said they were compelled to resort to the unusual half-naked protest to draw attention to their plight.
Appeals to Officials Yield No Result
The tribal residents alleged that they had submitted several representations to the Project Officer (PO) and the District Collector in the past, seeking roads for their villages. However, no effective steps had been taken to resolve the issue, they claimed.
They expressed disappointment that even after repeated appeals, their basic demand for road connectivity had not been addressed.
Demand for Immediate Road Construction
The protesters urged the government and concerned officials to respond immediately to their long-standing problem. They demanded that road projects be sanctioned for the affected villages and that construction works be taken up without further delay.
The tribal residents warned that if the authorities continued to ignore their demand, they would intensify their agitation in the coming days.
