The Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangha of Nuapada district felicitated the recently-elected panchayat representatives of tribal communities of Khariar, Boden and Sinapali blocks in a ceremony held at the Adivasi Bhawan at Khariar on Sunday. The ceremony started with worshipping of tribal ditties by the community priests followed by chanting of slogans on tribal unity.
Hundreds of tribal representatives, Ward Members, Sarpanches, Samiti Members and ZP Members, attended the ceremony.
“It was an opportunity to felicitate each other and express solidarity for greater unity of tribal communities. We want the tribals to get rid of exploitation, suppression and discrimination,” said Khariar Panchayat Samiti Chairman and Adivasi Kalyan Sangha secretary Balakrushna Sabar.
A meeting was held on the occasion which was presided over by Adivasi Kalyan Sangha president and ZP Member Bhanu Pratap Singh Majhi.
The felicitation event also witnessed participation of non-tribals too. People from different walks of life who have contributed much towards empowerment of tribals had also been invited. PCC secretary Adhiraj Panigrahi, who played a crucial role in the winning of tribals in the last panchayat elections including the chairperson and vice-chairpersons of different Panchayat Samitis of the district, was one of the guests in the ceremony. Journalist and social worker Ajit Panda was also one of the invitees.