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.