The Garib Sena of Nuapada district, a people's forum for fighting corruption, called off its weeklong hunger-strike on Wednesday after the district administration assured it to initiate action on its 14-point charter of demands.
Sena president Rabi Mangaraj had staged the fast since March 11 in front of the Collector's office. The demands included action against MGNREGS corruption, payment of compensation to the family members of migrant workers who died at their workplaces, establishment of maize and cotton-related industries, payment of outstanding wages to MGNREGS workers and initiation of works under this scheme.
Intellectuals, activists and human rights workers of the district had extended their support to the agitation. ADM Trilochan Minz along with other officials came to the demonstration place to pursue Mangaraj to call off the hunger strike.
The Garib Sena has given the administration one week’s time to resolve the issues raised by it. "If the demands are not fulfilled within a week, we will again resort to hunger strike," said Mangaraj.