led by Kalahandi Scheduled Tribe and Caste Development Forum, the voices for development are intensifying in Kalahandi district.
Hundreds of representatives of the scheduled tribe community from the region and other citizens of the district organised a demonstration on Friday named ‘Dakara 2016’ at Bhawanipatna.
Actively supported by the Kalahandi Development Forum, the congregation submitted a 6- point memorandum to the Governor of Odisha through district administration and demanded active and urgent consideration of their demand.
Joined by nearly 200 representatives, a rally was also organised which went through the city main junctions and culminated in a meeting and discussion forum at Amala Bhawan, Bhawanipatna. The discussion was anchored by prominent tribal leaders and intellectuals of the district.
Amidst serious crisis gripping the region resulting in the backwardness of the region and resistance to development process by NGOs backed by external forces, it was resolved that time has come for pressing hard a united voice for development on pro developmental issues and also to galvanize public movement at ground level for development . The forum also resolved to extend all support to any developmental initiative by the Government or other likeminded institution for the larger interest of the people of the region. The six major demands were related to proper utilisation of mineral and mining resources of the district in agriculture and industrially devoid Kalahandi, wagon factory, proper implementation of execution of PESA Act and regulation 2/1956, shifting of ITDA office to Thuamul Rampur from Bhawanipatna and establishment of Model School at Bhejapadar.
The forum was vocal in support of much needed industrialisation based on the rich mineral resources of the Kalahandi as it holds the key to the future and fortune of the region and any resistance to this will be opposed strongly.
It was also resolved that agriculture and industry will be supported at any cost and those opposing the same will be duly consulted and if required challenged. Present on the occasion were tribal leaders Paramanand Majhi and AnantSabar , Convenor KDF Dr Ajay Mishra, Shining Kalahandi chairman BhawanivNiyal and journalist Uma Kar.