*Published On:* Thu, May 23rd, 2013 Orissa <http://www.orissapost.com/category/orissa/> | By *PNN<http://www.orissapost.com/author/goutam/> * Tribals reiterate ‘no’ to Vedanta
[image: Dongaria Kondh's rally]<http://www.orissapost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Dongaria-Kondhs-rally.jpg>Rayagada/Muniguda, May 22: Dongaria Kondhs have warned the State Government of consequences if it leases out Niyamgiri hills to Vedanta. Over 5,000 members of the primitive tribe, who met at Munikhol panchayat office, vowed to fight for the hills till their death. They would not relent even if there is a bloodbath for the cause, warned Dadhi Pusika of Mukuli panchayat. The tribals have welcomed the Supreme Court order directing the State Government to hold Gram Sabhas to sort out the controversy over allocation of the hills for bauxite mining. They, however, declined to hold a Gram Sabha without Parsali Sarpanch Sikka Gutuku who is now in jail for fighting for Niyamagiri. Niyamagiri Suraksha Samiti President Lada Sikka said Gram Sabhas would be conducted only after the release of Gutuku. The tribals do not hold a community meeting or festival without its leader. Sikka flayed the Government plan to hold Gram Sabhas in 12 villages of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, although there are over 100 villages surrounding the hills. He alleged that the State Government was trying to please the company. The residents of 162 villages took out a rally with their traditional attire on, arms and music before they congregated at the meeting. During the rally, they urged the visitors through songs to support their cause. The tribal leaders said the dense forest, 36 streams, rare forest produce and birds and animals of the hills have been their sources of sustenance for centuries. Now, the Government was trying to devastate their livelihood by selling it out to Vedanta. Terming the company as ‘a monster’ they asked it to refrain from its efforts to destroy their hills, which they revere as God. Members of Jharkhand Mines Area Coordination Committee, Bisthapan Pratirodh Manch, Grameen Vikash Sangharsh Samiti, Tribal Organisation Network, Jala-Jangal Suraksha Samiti of Sundargarh and Gandhamardhan Suraksha Samiti of western Orissa were present at the convention. Volunteers of 33 outfits from 22 districts were also present at the venue. PNN -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This mail is sent you by AYUSHgoogle group AYUSH | adivasi yuva shakti | www.adiyuva.in Group of professionals who want to take initiative to develope tribal community, Let us do it together Our Online contact points : Home Page : www.adiyuva.in Join AYUSH : www.join.adiyuva.in Let us do it together : www.do.adiyuva.in Warli Art | India's Global Art, Proudly Tribal Art : www.warli.in Tribal Tourism : www.tourism.adiyuva.in Face book profile : www.facebook.com/adiyuva Face book page :www.facebook.com/adiyuva1 You Tube : http://youtube.com/adiyuva twitter : http://twitter.com/adiyuva Linked In : www.linkedin.com/in/adiyuva --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AYUSH | adivasi yuva shakti" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/adiyuva. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/adiyuva/CAH_2jQaNafwtOYN0YH4-Zf9R%2B4UbO8QykauXzvczW4GHTjF03g%40mail.gmail.com.
