The farmer leaders, who have been waging a struggle to save the gullible villagers from exploitation and displacement by several industrial units acquiring lands to set up their projects, have returned after completing their three-day successful New Delhi visit on Saturday last.
During their visit they met Union Tribal Affairs and Panchayatiraj\\ Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo. Deo assured them to write to the State Government to take steps against injustice done to the poor tribals of the affected villages where OTPCl, RSB and CESC projects are going to be set up. He also ordered for video recording of the Palli Sabhas to be conducted at the affected villages. The delegation met BJP leader Arun Jaitly and several other leaders.
Notably, the farmer leaders had held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar and given a memorandum to the Prime Minister on July 17 against illegal land acquisition in Dhenkanal. The leaders had drawn the attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman Justice KG Balkrishnan to the violations of rights by the administration and the companies during forced acquisition of land in the villages. The delegation had also met NCST Chairman Dr Rameshwar Oran.