Jagatsinghpur: A group of women staged a protest during a grievance hearing camp in Erasama block of Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district on Monday, highlighting the acute drinking water shortage in their village. The protest, marked by women carrying pots and buckets, drew attention after a video of the district collector’s reaction went viral on social media.

The incident took place at a public grievance hearing where women from Nalabhedi village under Gad Bishanpur panchayat gathered to press their long-pending demand for potable water. Despite pipelines being laid under the government’s Basudha scheme, residents alleged that no water supply has reached the village for years.

With around 120 households and a population exceeding 500, the village continues to struggle for basic drinking water. Villagers said they have repeatedly raised the issue with authorities, but no concrete solution has been provided so far.

During the hearing, several women sat in protest outside the venue holding water containers. Later, four of them approached the collector to submit a petition. However, the situation turned tense when the collector asked them to remain silent in a raised voice. Feeling insulted, the women walked out of the meeting.

The video of the incident has since gone viral. Many have questioned the conduct of officials, saying such reactions are inappropriate in a people-centric governance system.

Following the incident, the collector directed an official to visit the village and assess the situation.

Residents of Nalabhedi village currently depend on a tube well located about one kilometre away inside a school premises. With poor maintenance, the tube well is also deteriorating, worsening the crisis.

Villagers, mostly dependent on agriculture and small businesses, expressed dissatisfaction over administrative neglect. They pointed out that while other villages are progressing under various government schemes, their area continues to remain ignored.