Keonjhar: Scores of activists of the local wing of Janajati Vanabasi Kalyan Ashram-Orissa, an outfit of tribals, Monday took out a rally here pressing for their demands.
Their demands included, end to trafficking of tribals in the name of employment, identification of non-tribals who produced fake caste certificate to join government jobs and their termination and religious conversion of innocent tribals.
Led by Haricharan Banar, the leader of the district unit of the organisation, the tribals wielded traditional weapons during their march. The rally culminated at the collectorate where the members displayed banners and placards in support of their demands.
Their other demands were rights on water, forest and land, more power to gram sabhas, provision of basic amenities like healthcare, education and communication for the people living in tribal-dominated regions, forest land pattas for all, allowance for the aging and disabled persons and compensation for victims of elephant attacks.
The tribals also demanded allowance for tribal priests and tribal artistes, fixing of minimum support price for all minor forest produce, rehabilitation of the families displaced due to industrialisation and appointment of teachers to prevent disruption of education of the tribal students.
The protesters, pressing for their demands, submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the collector.
Tribal leaders Abhiram Mahant, Vikram Munda, Dambarudhar Kudada, former MP Ananta Nayak, MLAs Mohan Majhi and Dhanurjoy Sidhu and several others took part in the rally. PNN
