In Keonjhar district, a village that once flourished has now nearly vanished, leaving only one family as its last inhabitants after years of neglect from authorities. Tankagadia, located in the Gedama panchayat of the Hatadihi block, was once home to about 10 to 12 families a quarter-century ago. Currently, it is inhabited solely by Krushna Chandra Das and his family, which includes his four sons—Dinabandhu, Jagabandhu, Krupasindhu, and Sukanta—making them the final residents of a community that has been abandoned by both its people and the government.

For years, the villagers sought basic necessities like a proper road, clean drinking water, and electricity from local officials, but their requests went unanswered. Disheartened and hopeless, families such as those of Subhash Jena, Yudhisthir Biswal, Krushna Biswal, Kunia Biswal, Bharat Biswal, Dharani Mohanty, and Babaji Das gradually relocated to nearby areas like Gedama and Mudulisahi.

In 2012, the district administration designated Tankagadia as an ‘Adarsh Gram’ or model village, aiming to foster comprehensive development in rural areas. Officials visited, conducted public meetings, and promised improvements, yet no tangible changes occurred.

Subashini Das, Krushna Chandra’s daughter-in-law, expressed her frustration: “No road was constructed. We still lack electricity. The tube well is broken, forcing us to fetch water from far away. During the rainy season, we are completely isolated. Our children find it difficult to go to school, and if someone falls ill, reaching a hospital is nearly impossible.”

The family must navigate uneven hilly paths or narrow farmland ridges to access nearby communities. With no road access, their connection to the outside world remains tenuous, mirroring their dwindling hope.

Narahari Chakra, a former sarpanch who served during the village's recognition as a revenue village in 2007-08, noted that Tankagadia was once slated for development. “After the village was named a model village in 2012, the then sub-collector assured us that all essential services would be provided. However, the administration soon lost interest,” he remarked.

Anand Mohanty, another former sarpanch, attributed the stagnation to land disputes. “Many villagers owned ancestral land along the proposed road route. Without consensus on land acquisition, the project came to a halt,” he explained.

The Das family now lives in seclusion, devoid of immediate neighbors, health services, or functional infrastructure, with little indication of improvement. The prolonged silence from authorities has become increasingly unbearable.

When reached for comment, Ranjan Kumar Parida, the Block Development Officer of Hatadihi, stated that the administration would assess the village's current situation and take appropriate measures. For now, the last family in Tankagadia awaits not just development but acknowledgment of their existence.