Dalit activists demand share of development

http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Pioneer/400x60/0


Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar


The National Federation of Dalit Land Rights Movements (NFDLRM) and
the National Dalit Forum (NDF) jointly organised a two-day
consultation programme at Pantha Nivas here.

The activists from poverty-stricken States like Orissa, Jharakhand,
Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar participated in the event. They
expressed concern over the exploitation of natural resources with the
States' patronage for the profit of a few private companies which are
denying due shares to the communities affected by development. They
demanded that the national wealth be utilised for national interest
and well-being of all citizens.

The consultation programme was inaugurated by C Nicholas from Tamil
Nadu Land Rights Movements. Lalit Babar from Maharashtra presided over
the session. Manas Jena, national convener of NFDLRM presented the
background note of the consultation.

In a separate event, members of the Orissa Dalit Adhikar Manch (ODAM)
on Wednesday staged a mass demonstration at PMG Square here. The
members also demanded strict implementation of Article 17 of the
Constitution, minimum wages to daily labourers, jobs to the poor
throughout the year and social security to all.

On the occasion of International Poverty Eradication Day, the ODAM
members urged the State Government to take appropriate steps for
alleviation of poverty. They maintained that Orissa is a poor State
where starvation death and food scarcity are the common problems.
Citing the examples of Koraput and Rayagada, where hundreds of tribal
people died of cholera, they demanded that the Government must not
ignore the problems of tribal populace that constitutes 47 per cent of
the State's population.

The members also demanded quick operation of Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 and 1995. They
further demanded setting up of SC and ST Commission office in the
State. SC sub-plan and ST sub-plan should come into operation in every
department in matters of recruitment and promotion. After identifying
the landless tribal people, the Government should provide homestead
and agricultural lands.

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