Nuapada: Hundreds of tribal residents from eight hamlets under Gangadigad village in Chulabhata panchayat of Nuapada block staged a protest in front of the District Collector’s office Saturday, demanding official recognition of their settlements and correction of forest land pattas.
Led by labour leader Bhaktabandhu Dharua, men and women gathered and staged a two-hour-long sit-in demonstration. Additional District Collector Subash Chandra Raita met the protesters and assured that their demands would be examined and addressed, following which the demonstrators relented.
A memorandum was also submitted during the protest. Gangadigad village, located within the Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary close to the Chhattisgarh border, was established in 1956. The seven associated hamlets — Bhalupani, Baunsadongri, Gondalabahara, Mahulpada, Khaliapada, Santoshpada, and Banjipanipada — have long awaited recognition as revenue villages.
Although a government notification (No. 2183/2020) issued September 21, 2020, proposed village recognition, no concrete action followed. Many villagers have received forest land titles, but the pattas mention only land area, lacking details like plot and khata numbers, rendering them legally ineffective.
Due to this administrative gap, residents are unable to access caste and residence certificates, preventing their children from enrolling in schools and barring them from government schemes like PM-Kisan, CM-Kisan, and housing programmes.
Without registration, farmers also cannot sell paddy to government mandis, often selling at lower rates to middlemen. Protesters demanded updated pattas, formal recognition of all hamlets, groundwater restoration, and action against timber mafias and negligent forest officials. Key community leaders, including committee president Ghasiram Majhi and others, were present during the protest.
PNN
