Jajpur: Thirteen years after Kalinganagar firing which claimed the lives of 14 tribals, rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) of tribals in the area is yet to be resolved and the issue has remained the bone of contention for the locals, a report said.
As many as 14 tribals opposing the establishment of a Tata Steel plant were killed in the police firing January 2, 2006. The incident was heart wrenching because innocent tribals had lost their lives in the police action which came under severe criticism from rights activists and civilian groups.
However, what has been more painful is that the tribal leaders who were once spearheading the agitation against establishing the steel plant have now grown rich by allegedly surrendering themselves to the plant authorities.
A common refrain in the area is while the tribal leaders have laughed all their way to the bank using the innocent and gullible tribals, there is no change in the latter’s life as they continue to suffer in neglect and struggle for their rights.
This has happened as the government’s promises on compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement are yet to be fulfilled even after so many years. It is alleged that the government is not making any sincere efforts to resolve the problems.
The issue has gained importance when the Principal Secretary, Revenue, expressed his displeasure over the issues at a meeting of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department in November. He directed the district collector to resolve the rehabilitation and resettlement package of Tata Steel within a year and submit a progress report to the department December 1.
Sources said 14 tribals who had been opposing industrialization were shot dead on January 2, 2006. The agitators, under the leadership of some of their tribal heads, had blocked the traffic on Chandikhole-Duburi National Highway 53 for over 14 months.
The road blockade was then termed historical but it soon crumbled after the leaders allegedly fell into the joint trap of Tata Steel and the administration and gave up. Even the political parties who were then supporting the movement stopped raising their voice and became silent after that.
According to sources, 605 rehabilitation and resettlement issues of Tata Steel are still lying unresolved. Among these, 377 are of employment; 68 regarding allotment of homestead land; 70 of house building assistance; 42 of transit shelter assistance; and 48 of maintenance. On the other hand, Tata Steel has claimed that attempts are being made to provide employment to 240 displaced families. Among them, 80 are students and 53 are minors.
When contacted, Kalinganagar ADM Santosh Kumar Mishra said that the Tata Steel has been asked to resolve the issues within a period of three months but it is delaying the settlement.
PNN
