As CM In Inauguration Spree, Malkangiri Boy Seeks PM’s Help To Counter JE

Malkangiri: As Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik did not visit the tribal-dominated Malkangiri, where over 80 children have died due to Japanese Encephalitis, a 10-year-old boy’s wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealing for help to save their lives from the killer disease.

The Chief Minister is busy in laying foundation stones and inaugurating several projects in different districts keeping an eye on the ensuing Panchayat elections. But, he is yet to visit Malkangiri district to take stock of the situation and meet the bereaved families.

“Save our lives. Many of my friends have died of Japanese fever. You are roaming around the globe. Can’t you come over to our village and see how children are dying here,” Umesh Madhi said in his letter to PM Modi.

Madhi, a student of class four of Polkanda Primary School under Sikapali gram panchayat, described the ordeal of parents who lost their children to Japanese Encephalitis.

“Sir, you are touring different countries. Can’t you come down to our village and see the plight of the people here,” Madi said.

He said the Prime Minister is their last hope.

Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Nruparaj Sahoo, who is currently in Malkangiri to monitor the situation, said the situation had not improved as much as they had expected it to.

“The situation remains grim even as the district administration has taken all possible measures to check the outbreak,” said Sahoo.