The tribals of Bileimunda in Sundargarh district have been holding an anti-liquor agitation for last 200 days, but in vain.
The villagers of Garjanjor panchayat under Hemgiri Tehsil, are holding the agitation demanding shifting of a local country liquor shop and a beer parlor alleging that they been the main cause of many disturbances in their locality. A relay hunger strike has been continuing there since April 1.
During the hunger strike, Hemgiri Tehsildar lalat Kumar luha and Hemgiri police officials had discussed with the protesters and urged them to withdraw the strike, but in vain. The villagers had discarded a Gram Sabha in protest against the apathy. On May 8, a large number of women had staged a rally on the Mother’s Day and took oath to drive out liquor from the village. A 12-member team under the banner of Bileimunda Grambasi and Anchalbasi in Sundargarh had met the district Collector on May 9, but district Collector Bhupinder Singh Punia had refused to fulfil their demand. On May 24, Under Secretary to the Governor of Odisha had written to the Sundargarh Collector to submit action taken report on the petition. Since the district administration has not yet taken any action for eviction of that liquor shop and beer parlor from that place, hundreds of tribals, besides several voluntary organisations, had staged a demonstration at the Sundargarh Collector’s office on July 18 last. Since their demand was not fulfilled, a two-member team of protesters had gone to New Delhi during the month of August and had submitted a memorandum in the office of National Commission for SCs and the National Commission for STs. The protesters had also sent their memorandum to the President and the Prime Minster.
According to sources, the protesters are now planning to conduct a meeting shortly to plan about their next course of action.
“We have been continuing our strike for last 200 days but our demand has not yet been fulfilled,” said Rajendra Naik, a protester, adding, “We are going to conduct a meeting shortly in which we will decide our next course of action.”