Baripada:Normal life was hitMondayacross Mayurbhanj district following a six-hour bandh called by the Kudumi community to press their demand for Scheduled Tribe tag. The bandh was observed in a peaceful manner, but vehicular movements came to a standstill in the district.
The activists of Kudumi Sena (Odisha) had held a press conference at Baripada stadium hereSaturdayand pushed their demand.
Thousands of Kudumi people from various parts of Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Deogarh, Sambalpur and Balasore districts have taken part in the bandh. Life came to a standstill as all shops, business establishments, educational institutions including schools, colleges, government and private offices along with courts remained shut.
At many key locations, Sena activists squatted on railway tracks and main roads. Train and bus services were badly hit. The activists burned tyres on National Highway-16, halting movement of vehicles and causing a severe road blockade.
While the Constitution covers the community under OBC category, the Kudumis have, for many decades, been seeking tribal status and governmental benefits thereof. They alleged that the government took no step on the demand despite repeated reminders. The bandh, the protesters said, was the last resort to pressurise the government in a peaceful manner.
State Kudumi Sena president Jaimuni Mohant, district unit president Durgacharan Mohant, district women unit Sabita Mohant and district executive president Mamata Mohant had called the bandh at a press conference. eom
