Thousands of Sabar tribals from all over the State, led by activist Er Debashisha Hota, congregated under the banner of Odisha Praja Sangharsha Samiti at Lower PMG on Monday.
They demanded before CM Naveen Patnaik to delegate power of caste correction in RORs to all district Collectors. Over 6,000 women participated in the rally. The agitators from the poor Sabar tribe warned of continuing the stir for an indefinite period if their genuine demand was not be fulfilled.
Notably, 11 years ago on June 12, 2009, a letter on proposal of rectification of all land RORs from “Saara” to “Sabar” had been submitted by the then Principal Secretary in ST and SC Development Department to the Commissioner-cum-Secretary in Revenue and Disaster Management Department to delegate the power of Member of Board of Revenue to Collectors, so that erroneous recording of caste in RORs could be rectified at lower level. Unfortunately, the proposal was still pending.
Hota alleged that for the deliberate negligence, the poor “Sabar” tribals were deprived of all types of Government benefits as they were not given the status of ST.
“Even if in some places, the father’s caste is recorded as Saara and his son’s recorded as Sabar. Due to the mistakes, while the father is not recognized as ST, son is recognized so,” lamented Hota.