The Nikhil Odisha Paika Mahasangha on Monday held a convention here demanding that both Central and State Governments take steps for welfare of the Paika community.
They alleged that the developmental schemes of the Governments are not reaching them. They also alleged that no special schemes are earmarked for them.
They demanded, among others things, a 30-per cent reservation in employment and education, to provide status of State game to Paika Akhada, to celebrate a ‘Paika Day’ every year, to construct a ‘Paika Academy’, to provide grant-in-aid for their swords, shields and other weapons and to open a special course of Paika Akhada in the Utkal University of Culture.
Among others, Dusasan Nath Das, Manoranjan Paschimakabata, Pramod Kumar Samantra, Ranjan Bisoyi, Ajay Nayak, Ranjan Baliarsingh, Gopal Jaysingh, Jitendra Mansingh, Kishore Chandra Bisoyi and Prasanna Dalabehera were present.
Members from different districts like Dhenkanal, Puri, Nayagarh, Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur and Baleswar participated in the convention.