The socio-economic disparity between the aboriginals and the rehabilitated Bangladeshi refugees has sparked discontentment here.Raighar panchayat, 28 km away from here, is famous for maize production and the inhabitants of the localities are mostly tribals.
More than 50 refugee villages are situated adjacent to Umarkote and Raighar towns where the migrated Bangladeshis have been settled under the Dandakaranya Project during the regime of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Each family has been provided with five to six acres of land by the Government for their livelihood. In comparison to the local tribals, the settlers have a prolific standard of living as they get exclusive preference by the Government in all sectors. Almost all Bangladeshi settlers of the region have been included in the list of Scheduled Caste by the Government and they have reportedly occupied a number of civil posts in both the State and Central Government jobs.
According to sources, a majority of Bangladeshi families are affluent and are having 10-15 acres of land while the original tribal families have less and sub-standard land to meet their livelihood.
Clashes between the tribals and the refugees have reportedly erupted many a time in the past and the bone of contention is land. The burning example of 2001 Raighar riot, that had rocked the entire State, witnessed a colossal loss of life and property. Despite being the bonafide denizens, the tribals of the locality have been neglected by the Government, alleged Sanatan Bhatra, a senior citizen of Khutuguda village.
It is further alleged that a large number of Bangladeshis have immigrated and illegally settled here posing a threat to the law and order. The State Government has identified a number of such families, but is yet to take any positive action for their deportation. It is further alleged that the Bangladeshis could take the land of tribals in lease for three to four years in violation of Scheduled Area Transfer of Immovable Property Act (Regulation 2/56). They have planted Nilagiri trees in the land illegally. As a result, the tribals remain idle for the entire lease period or are forced to travel abroad as migrant labourers. The State Government has identified a number of such illegal Bangladeshis immigrant families, but is yet to take any positive action for their deportation.
Moreover, political patronage has emboldened them to grab the land of the poor tribals and often get a Government job. The tribals are still under the shadow of development while the basic needs like food, education, health, water and electricity are yet to reach some villages.
However, the Government is spending huge amount in form of different projects for the development of tribals here, but it has not been materialised properly because the officials from top to the bottom levels are indulged in corruption and if at all any work has been done, it is merely on pen and paper and just an eyewash, locals fumed.
Naxalism, that had earlier spared this area, has begun making inroads. The killing of former Umarkote MlA Jagabandhu Majhi in Gona village in Raighar block and attack on Kundei police station establishes that Maoists have already intruded into the area. It is high time the administration should initiate measures for the all round development of the tribals here before the situation takes an ugly turn. The Revenue department should take prompt initiative to identify the trabal lands under the illegal possession of the Bangladeshi settlers and restore it under the provisions of law levying heavy penalty.
Pertinent to note that Umarkote Municipality is a commercial hub of Nabarangpur district bordering Maoist-infested Chhattisgarh to its west. It is 60 km from the district headquarters. A proposal for creation of another new sub-division was put forth by the district administration in 1990, but that is yet to be realized.