PARADIP: The ongoing impasse over the Posco project has taken its toll on mental health of the villagers of Dhinkia, Gobindpur and Patana. Aggrieved with the loss of their treasure troves, the betel vines which are presently being demolished, many villagers have lost their mental balance. To add to the woes, several villagers injured in police clashes over the years of conflict, go without treatment. With no medical aid, the distressed villagers are finding it difficult to cope with the health crisis pervading the region.A 15-member team, including five doctors, psychologists and human rights activists, led by the Krity Roy, secretary of a West Bengal-based social organisation Manaba Adhikar Surakshya Manch, visited the villagers recently. The team conducted two medical camps at Gobindpur and Dhinkia. Around 50 of the nearly 300 patients attended were found to be victims of trauma triggered by forcible land acquisition and subsequent displacement. “Ramesh Rout of Gobindpur is living with a bullet in his body for a year now. He has not received any treatment. He declined to go out of the village for treatment fearing arrest,” said a doctor of the team. “Similar is the situation with Rebati Behera who is battling trauma of losing betel vines,” he added. Mohit Randip, psychologist, said most of the villagers were traumatised by the loss of betel vines, their source of livelihood for generations. The sight of co-villagers pining for treatment, children forming human barricades to prevent police intrusion have aggravated their trauma, Randip added. The impasse has taken its toll on the health of children as well. They are suffering from fever, malnutrition, drowsiness, mental imbalance and diarrhoea, said Roy. Attributing the plight of the villagers to police hostilities, PPSS leader Abhaya Sahu accused the police of registering false cases against many villagers.
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