Minimum facilities far cry for them

While the government has come up with a vast array of development programmes to upgrade people's life standard, some 300 residents from two indigenous communities are still deprived of getting minimum government facilities.

Around 55 families of Khaira and Santal communities at bordering Krishnochura village in Moulvibazar's Sreemangal and Habiganj's Chunarughat upazilas do not have proper medicare, education and other basic needs.

Most of the children at the remote village are left out of the government's vaccination programme. However, some of them were lucky as they were fortunately vaccinated while visiting their relatives' houses in other areas.

“Our children remain unvaccinated as health workers don't visit here as it is located in remote area,” said Lobin Santal, 43, a resident of the village.

There are only three latrines and two tube-wells for the villagers. Most of the people go to nearby jungle for defecation. It causes different types of disease among the residents.

The word 'Digital Bangladesh' seems meaningless to them as the village is yet to be connected with electricity. They are completely unacquainted with Information and Communication Technology, internet and other modern amenities.

Literacy rate is very low here as there is no school in the area. Children have to walk over three kilometres daily to reach Jamburacherra Government Primary School in Sreemangal.

A Class V student of the village said long distance is one of the factors but language barrier is another major challenge to continue her study.

“It's tough for me to understand the subjects as our teachers conduct class in Bangla language,” she added.

The villagers are mainly dependent on paddy, pineapple and lemon cultivation, said locals.

Nurul Mumin Faruk Chowdhury, chairman of Ranigaon Union Parishad in Chunarughat upazila, said the village has been neglected for many years due to its remoteness.

“I am trying to get special allocation for the development of the village,” he said.

Joynal Abedin Titu, health and family planning officer of Sreemangal upazila, said he did not know about the matter that vaccination programme did not reach the village.

He will inquire into the allegation, said Titu.