Sundargarh, Oct 6: On paper, Juniani is a village in Odisha. It lies within Rajbahal gram panchayat of Lephripada block in Sundargarh district and has its place on the state’s map. But for its residents, being part of Odisha does not necessarily mean having access to the basic facilities that many others take for granted.

Here, the struggle begins with something as fundamental as education.

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Residents of Juniani say the village does not even have an Anganwadi centre, leaving young children without access to early childhood education. Shockingly, kids cannot even learn and study Odia, due to the absence of basic educational infrastructure.

Even worse, access to safe drinking water also remains a persistent challenge. Electricity, too, continues to be out of reach for the village, adding to the difficulties faced by families in their everyday lives.

A Road That Keeps The Village Away

The road connecting Juniani with the neighbouring villages of Tumbikhol and Taragad is reportedly in poor condition. Travelling along the route can be difficult even on foot, while motorcycles and other vehicles face an even greater challenge.

Whether it is travelling for work, seeking medical assistance, accessing government services or carrying out routine household needs, residents have little choice but to negotiate the difficult stretch.

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The poor condition of the road also means that reaching the village can become a challenge for people from outside.

Beyond Roads and Electricity

Residents say the village remains deprived of several basic amenities, including drinking water, education, healthcare and electricity. The absence of these facilities has a direct impact on everyday life, particularly for children, elderly people and families requiring medical attention.

The concerns become more significant because Juniani is located near the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. For a village situated within Odisha, the question residents are raising is simple: why have basic government services still not reached them adequately?

Waiting To Be Heard

The people of Juniani are not asking for luxuries. Their concerns centre around necessities — a road that can be used safely, drinking water, electricity, healthcare and facilities that allow children to study.

The absence of an Anganwadi centre has also become a symbol of the larger gap between government infrastructure and the everyday needs of the village's residents.

Until basic facilities like a functioning road, a reliable source of drinking water, electricity in their homes and a place where their children can begin their education, reach Juniani, the village will continue to wait for basic amenities.