Voices

Training for VSSs in collection of forest produce - The Hindu http://www.getaheadofthegames.com/best-tank-games

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/tribals-are-treated-as-second-class-citizens.html

source:  http://odishasuntimes.com/peoples-tribunal-finds-serious-violations-constitution-laws-scheduled-areas-state/

Indigenous People’s Forum, Odisha (IPFO) LIG 62/K4 Kalinga Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Pin-751019 Contact No:+91 88959 21665,+91 94381 56315,E.Mail:  ipfodisha@gmail. com ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------- Ref…………………                                                                                       Date :   20th December 2013                PRESS RELEASE Dated 20 th  December, 2013 Institute of Engineers, Bhubaneshwar    ...

“Enforce Tribal Self-Rule as enshrined in the Central Panchayat Raj Extension to Schedule areas (PESA) 1996 in the Scheduled areas of Odisha” has been the echo of 500 tribals gathering at people’s tribunal   held at Institute of Engineers , Bhubaneswar on 20 th  December 2013 organised by Indigenous peoples forum, Tribals from the different parts of Odisha deposed before the jury on the issues of tribal land alienation, spreading liquor shops, rampant mining, forceful displacement, non- recognition of the tribal language etc. They urged the government to obey the resolution of their Gram Sabha as defined in PESA 1996. 

Gajapati District of Odisha presented how the adivasis remain illiterate and considered stupid in the eyes of other cultured people. They emphasized that the medium of learning so called language is the problem in our education system for Tribals. They are forced to learn in a foreign language(Odiya). They call it as foreign language because it is same as any foreign language for them. They pleaded before the Juries for having education in their mother tongue.

Presenting Case from Sundargarh (Odisha) with regard to the fact that in the name of privatisation the OCL, Steel and Iron Companies have taken away the resourceful land of Adivasis and established their business. The playground, cemetery, cultivating land, river etc. The adivasis/sufferers went to the police station with their complain where the police refused to accept the complain and file FIR. The Tribal people of the area went to the governor of Odisha and pealed for the same but the governor stopped his action by giving some direction to the authorities who never did anything to get justice. 

  Its is said that tribals were gathering for meeting whenever there was a beating of dram/Nagara in the village. In other words beating dram/Nagara is a calling bell of tribals for meeting.

The people's Tribunal is the first time in Odisha and India as a country on PESA Act 1996.The very purpose of conducting People's Tribunal is to promulgate the rule as per the PESA Act 1096; to study and analyse the problems of governance; to use the proceedings, findings and recommendations of Jury to pressurize the government of Odisha for enactment of PESA rules. The eminent Juries would be: Dr. B.D. Sharma (IAS Retd.) Ex. Chairman, SC/ST Commission, Govt. of India Mr. Dilip Singh Bhuria, Ex. PM, Ex. Chairman, ST Commission, Govt. of India Mr. Somjit Bhai Damor, Seven times MP and Minister, Govt. of India Dr.SK Subramanian (IPS, Retd.) Ex. DGP, Nagaland Prof. Virgius Xaxa, Chairman, High Level Committee on Tribal Issues, constituted by PMO 2013 Mr. Aurobindo Behera(IAS, Retd.), Govt. of Odisha Dr.Marianus Kujur, Director, Tribal Studies, ISI, New Delhi Dr. Bipin Jojo (Professor), TISS, Mumbai Mr. Chito Behera, Expert on OGP Act, Cuttuck, Odisha Mrs. Dayamani Ba...

Thanks to Amritlal Tigga. His complaint to NHRC has resulted in forcing the Department of Mass Education, Govt. of Odisha to enquire into the matter of discrimination against 14 dalit students, who left their school. -    Dhirendra Panda, director of CSFHR Bhubaneswar source:  https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#inbox/142c8d9a8b085806?projector=1