The tribal inhabitants of the Sunabeda plateau in Nuapada district have decided to hold a rally in district headquarters on June 8 to protest against the apathy of the district administration towards fulfilling their basic needs.
“We wanted to meet the Collector on May 23 to discuss about our problems, but the Collector did not spare time. So, we submitted our memorandum in his office. Our demands are very small, which could have been addressed effectively at the district level, but the Collector says he would send our grievance to the State authorities,” said a leader of the tribals.
It is learnt that when the people on their second attempt met the Collector on Thursday, he said he would send the memorandum to the State authorities.
The demands include inclusion of all the PVTG people under the NFSA, improvement of road from Cherechuan to Jamgaon, award of entitlement of forestland under the FRA and completion of electrification works at different villages of the plateau, etc.
The plateau with a total of 30 small tribal habitations is located at a height of 3,000 feet above sea level and is one of the Maoist-affected areas. Most of the population here belongs to the Chakotia Bhunjia tribe, which is one of the PVTGs of Odisha.
The people here pressed between the fear of Maoists on the one hand and police on the other. Development has suffered much due to the negligence of the district administration to address the pressing problems of people citing the presence of Maoists as a threat.
The argument of the people that solution to their problems lies in the hand of the district administration is considered to be true. The administration cannot deny inclusion of the people under the NFSA or the FRA because it is mandatory. The administration can also arrange fund for the improvement of the road. About the discontinuation of the electrification works, the people argue that the works were stopped due to a conflict between the Collector and the DFO, Wildlife.
“It was going on effectively under the leadership of the previous Collector, why did it stop abruptly after his transferIJ” they ask.
It is learnt that the DFO has stopped the electrification works raising objection that the implementing authority has not obtained permission from the Forest and Environment Department. However, the people say the decision of the DFO is ridiculous.
“When he has allowed the contractors of the PMGSY to construct the road, why is he objecting to electrification,” they wonder.