Thousands of tribals under the leadership of Biramitrapur MlA George Tirkey and Talsara MlA Prafulla Majhi staged a demonstration in front of Sundargarh Collectorate on Tuesday, pressing for an eight- point charter of demands, including implementation of PESA Act and return of unutilised tribal land acquired for industries to the original land owners.
Sundargarh Collector SK Meena discussed with a delegation of protestors. Sources said a mass rally was organised where thousands of tribals took part from Bhabani ground to Sundargarh Collector office, via Municipality square, under the leadership of Trikey and Majhi.
The participants shouted slogans against the State Government terming it as a land broker and anti tribal. Tirkey and Majhi alleged that the district administration was neglecting the interest of the tribals and helping the industrial houses, instead.
“The land, which were procured for use of industry but have been lying idle, should be returned to the land owners, as per the directives of the National Commissions for SCs and STs,” said Tirkey, adding that the use of the land for purposes other than they were acquired for won’t be tolerated.
MlA Majhi claimed that Sundargarh being a scheduled district, as per the provision of the PESA Act, all decisions should be taken by the Gram Sabha, but the Gram Sabhas are never given any importance, he alleged. “We have been organising workshops to create awareness about the PESA provisions since some misconception is being created over the PESA by some activists,” Collector Meena said.
The demand of returning the unutilised land to the land owners is also not possible, since the land is acquired through a Government agency and when acquired, it becomes a property of the Government, as the land owner is already compensated, Meena clarified.