However, despite several attempts by the government through various schemes for the development of rural areas, the most basic facilities remain elusive to many of the distant villages. For instance, take the example of Tumbapadar village within Kerameti Panchayat of Kundura block in the district of Koraput, where people still find it difficult to access basic amenities like drinking water and roads even decades after Independence.

The village comprises over 30 families, yet according to villagers, development efforts have not been able to touch the village. The villagers blame the Kundura block administration for negligence towards Tumbapadar, leading to extreme shortage of drinking water, particularly during summers.

As there are no tube wells in the village, the people rely on the nearby river called Kalab for their daily requirements of water. The villagers further complain about the installation of the water supply system, which has remained defunct for months.

The local people believe that drinking water from the river without purification causes several ailments among the villagers. Furthermore, there are allegations against the local authorities for not responding effectively to the complaints made by the villagers regarding drinking water facilities.

Besides the drinking water problem, accessibility is another area of concern. Tumbapadar village, which is part of the Kotpad assembly constituency, does not have any access road till date. People have to travel via a hazardous route to reach the panchayat and block offices.

In addition, during monsoon, the situation seems even more problematic as the village gets cut off from the rest of the regions. In particular, students attending schools within 5 to 6 kilometres are most affected due to the hazardous route, causing them to refrain from attending school regularly.

They say that their representatives and the administration have been turning a deaf ear to their pleas. They say that representatives visit the area when there is an election, but thereafter the village is out of mind for them.

It may now be hoped that once this problem comes into the limelight, the administration realizes its responsibilities and ensures basic facilities like water supply, roads, etc., for Tumbapadar village.