Nuapada tribals stand up against injustice Thursday, 19 August 2021 | AJIT | PANDA/NUAPADA
Nuapada tribals stand up against injustice
Thousands of Adivasis of Nuapada district under the banner of the Nuapada Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangha came together to celebrate the International Day of World's Indigenous People on August 9 at Nuapada.
The celebration continued for a week that witnessed various activities like cultural programmes, meetings, discussions and concluded on Sunday at Bargaon village of Khariar block with a meeting intended to discuss about Adivasis’ rights and the issue of ‘indigenousness’. They also raised issues such as educational development of their children, socio-cultural emancipation of Adivasi communities and delineated strategies to strengthen their Sangha.
"Our people should not lag behind in development. Education is the backbone that we must pursue, but for getting success in these fields the foremost requirement is our active participation and cooperation in issues that bring us social and economic benefits," said the leaders.
Analysing the term and concept of “indigenous people", the leaders expressed resentment over the Government of India's stand not accepting this term and concept. "India voted in favour of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2007, but it is regretted that it didn't not consider the term and concept of “indigenous peoples”. We appeal to the Indian Government to accept this term and concept in its true sense and remain answerable to the UN," they said. "Why India has not yet identified the indigenous communities," asked Somanath Khamari, a former Secretary of the Sangha.
Hundreds of local Adivasi leaders, including retired Government officials like Homsingh Majhi, Chittaranjan Bangola, Jayaram Shabar, Majhia Majhi and Biharilala Majhi and other prominent community leaders like Balkrishna Sabar, Bhubaneswar Mallick, Karthik Mallick and Prasanna Majhi expressed their views on these issues. On the impact of Covid-19, the leaders acknowledged that the pandemic has led to marginalisation in general but has severely affected Adivasi people who were already suffering from poverty, illness and discrimination. The leaders demanded waiver of education fees for students. They also criticised the Nuapada district administration and police for their indifference towards problems of tribal people. Sangha president Balkrishna Sabar cited three cases where the district administration has failed to provide justice to Adivasis. “The police has not yet acted on an FIR lodged by Dhananjay Sabar, a line man of electricity department who was beaten up by some Brahmins in Thikpali village under the Komna police station. The Khariar police is yet to apprehend the corrupt Government officials and the swindler who have misappropriated over Rs 24 lakh sanctioned as rehabilitation assistance to an Adivasi project-affected person.
A third instance of police inaction is their silence on an FIR lodged by Chandra Sekhar Sabar of Goimindi village,“ added Balkrishna.
The Sangha submitted a memorandum to the Nuapada SP urging him to arrest of the culprits involved in these three cases. “We have informed the SP that we would gherao the Khariar police station on August 30 if action is not taken,” informed Balkrishna.
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