Orissa Tribals hold mass rally seeking change in Land Reforms Act

Bhubaneswar, Oct 21 (ANI): Thousands of tribals took to the streets here against alleged state government's atrocities on tribals.

They also demanded amendment to the Land Reforms Act.

Held under the aegis of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS), a Maoist-backed outfit, the objective of the rally was to highlight the issue of the state government and private companies taking over lands belonging to tribals.

The rally by CMAS was supported by at least 15 other like-minded organisations, which joined in the mass rally.

The land issue, of late, has created a controversy in Koraput district particularly in the block named Narayanpatna.

"The government has not given us a single piece of land. In Narayanpatna, we acquired 2001 acres of land and distributed. The government arrested our leaders as Maoists. Then how can one say the government has provided us land? It's false and an eyewash," said Kumudun Dora, a protestor.

Gananath Patra, Advisor to CMAS has said that they would hold similar movement in other districts if their demands are not considered and met by the authorities in right earnest.

"The government is yet to wake up from it slumber. The people have not yet received their promised forest lands which merely written on a paper does not work. The tribals have not got back their lands grabbed by the government and they (government) have not formulated any solution till now," Patra added.

The tribals constitute around eight percent of the country's total population of 1.1 billion. (ANI)