Residents of a Dalit settlement in Irugur have appealed to the district administration to issue patta for the four-acre land near their area and construct a primary health centre there. They allege that third parties have been trying to encroach the land.

According to them numerous attempts have been made by private parties along with an NGO to plant saplings there. It is learnt the residents stalled it with the help of police.

“We do not have proper sanitary facilities and have been using farms for relieving ourselves. Toilets are a must here,” a resident complained.

Also there have been complaints of discrimination based on caste. “We are living like out castes here in our own land. We have sent repeated complaints to the authorities. It is time they do something for us,” another resident added.

The residents staged a demonstration and submitted a petition to the District Collector, Archana Patnaik.