By Express News Service
KORAPUT: The refrain for a brand new Union Territory (UT) grew louder as leaders of political events and social organisations from Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh united for the trigger on the normal physique assembly of the newly-formed Dandakaranya Parbatmala Bikash Parishad (DPBP) at Koraput on Sunday.
A couple of days again, former Koraput MP and BJP chief Jayaram Pangi had shaped DPBP to combat for UT tag for Dandakaranya area comprising undivided Koraput, Kandhamal district and a few elements Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Attending the meet, over 300 leaders and social activists from the neighbouring states together with former Union Minister Arvind Netam, AP’s ST cell secretary Setti Gangadhar Swamy and Dandakaranya Liberation Front (DLF) central committee member Samareddy Manikyam supported the demand.
Pangi, additionally president of DPBP, stated the communities of Dora, Mali, Jhodia and Duruwa are thought-about as different backward castes (OBC) in Odisha however in AP, they’ve been given tribal standing.
Though the approach to life of Mali, Rana and Kumbhar communities is that of tribals, they have been being included in OBC class in Odisha. Despite a number of calls for for the reason that final three a long time, neither the State authorities nor the Centre has appeared into the matter. Formation of UT is the one choice to resolve the difficulty, Pangi stated.
Pangi who had earlier claimed he would resign from BJP to pursue the UT standing demand stated he’ll proceed within the saffron occasion.
“I will remain in BJP as the high command has allowed me to fight for this cause while carrying out my duties as a party leader,” he stated.
Addressing the meet, Netam stated the demand for UT standing for the area was raised 75 years after Independence as a result of tribals have been intentionally uncared for.
The acts and guidelines meant for tribals are but to be applied on the grassroots degree. Displacement is the most important situation dealing with the area as a result of which tribal nonetheless stay beneath poverty line. Power initiatives like Kolab, Indravati, Balimela and Machkund have destroyed lives of hundreds of individuals, he alleged.
Manikyam stated DLF had organised a meet for autonomous State for Dandakaranya area at Padwa in 1999 and this motion has gained momentum in Koraput now. Remembering freedom fighter Birsa Munda, he claimed that tribal communities of AP and Dandakaranya area share social and cultural ties. The UT standing is very important for growth of tribals.
Among others, DPBP normal secretary and former Koraput Collector Gadadhar Parida and Swamy additionally spoke. Leaders from Malkangiri, Rayagada and Nabarangpur participated within the occasion. The subsequent organisational assembly of DPBP can be held at Motu in Malkangiri district.
