Malkangiri: Maoists have come out against the state government’s alleged bid for sale of minor forest produce (MFP) of six districts through a Hyderabad based agency ISB, a report said.
The matter came to the fore after Andhra-Odisha Maoist outfit published a press notification in this regard. The press release has been issued by Ganesh, secretary of AndhraOdisha Maoist outfit, Friday.
In the press release, Ganesh has alleged that the state government is handing over the land and rights of tribals to the capitalists on the pretext of the development of tribals. He has warned to punish those local people acting as agents of the corporate sector.
The state government organised Odisha Conclave at Bhubaneswar December 3 where it had announced to handover the sale rights of minor forest produce of six districts to a Hyderabad based private agency ISB.
The state government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ISB where it will purchase minor forest produce like Tola, Mohua and among others through women selfhelp groups and sale it to others in affiliation with Mission Shakti.
These minor forest produce will be purchased from six tribal dominated districts like Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Rayagada, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar in the state. This move has drawn severe flak from the leaders and cadres of Andhra-Odisha special border zonal committee.
When contacted, Malkangiri SP Nitish Wadhwani said he has no knowledge about such outfits or any press release issued by them.
PNN
