Odisha govt declares Rs 3 lakh exgratia, pucca house for JE victims

Malkangiri: Month after the death of over 100 children due to Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Malkangiri district, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday announced Rs 3 lakh exgratia and pucca house for each of the families of the deceased kids.

The Chief Minister made the announcement while addressing a gathering in the district. Patnaik also took out a review meeting over the Japanese Encephalitis situation with the district officials and local leaders of the party.

However, the opposition parties criticized the state government for the delayed move. They said the Chief Minister woke up after the death of over 100 children in Malkangiri district.

Notably, the BJP and Congress are observing a bandh in Malkangiri on Saturday protesting Patnaik’s visit to the district and alleging government’s inaction in Japanese Encephalitis deaths.