Hundreds of tribals and forest dwellers under the banner of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD) marched in a rally and protested breach of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in the State.
The rally started from the Master Canteen and marched towards the lower PMG where a meeting was organised. The protesters gave various slogans. CSD, Odisha convenor GopinathMajhi said, “The protest march is organised to protest against the Forest Department for doing plantation over the occupied forest lands in different districts and for launching anti-FRA schemes like “AmaJubgleYojana”, “Banayana” and JICA project. It is organised to counter the BJD Government’s bid to misguide the forest dwellers by seeking amendment in the FRA.”
The rally also protested against the non-recognition of Community Forest Rights in the State and the Government for not allowing six gram sabhas in Golamunda block of Kalahandi district to do independent business of the Kendu leaf, he added.
Presided over by Narendra Monahti, the meeting was addressed by CSD member, senior journalist Rabi Das, Suresh Panigrahi, Radhakanta Sethi, Biswpriya Kanungo, Sekh Abdul Wali and Pradidta Nayak etc. They submitted a 16-point memorandum to the Governor of Odisha urging him to monitor the FRA implementation in the State.