Steps to pacify agitating tribals from cut-off areas of Balimela

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2010/02/18/stories/2010021854970300.htm)
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Steps to pacify agitating tribals from cut-off areas of Balimela


Staff Reporter



A team of administrative officials holding talks with the agitators: Collector



Collector holds telephonic discussion with agitating tribalsNow on camp office to be held at Chitrakonda every week


BERHAMPUR: The Malkangiri district administration started efforts to pacify the agitating tribals from cut-off areas of Balimela reservoir, who continued their agitation at Chitrakonda on Wednesday also. More than 5,000 tribals from cut off areas of the reservoir with their traditional arms are camping in Chitrakonda town since Monday to stall work at all government offices as a mark of protest. The armed tribals have also blocked the road to Chitrakonda. The administration and police are also cautious about this agitation as the tribals come from one of the most Maoist dominated area of the district. Politicians have also started taking interest in this tribal agitation. Nabarangpur MP Pradip Majhi, who represents this area and has recently been appointed president of the state Youth Congress, met the agitating tribals to show up his solidarity to the agitation.
Speaking to The Hindu, Malkangiri district Collector R.Vineel Krishna said he had held telephonic discussion with the leaders of agitating tribals. A team of administrative officials is also holding direct talks with the agitators. Mr Krishna said they were making all efforts to fulfil all major demands of the tribals of cut off area, which according to him were genuine.
As immediate measure the administration has decided to hold camp office of the Chitrakonda block at Chitrakonda town every week. The tribals were demanding the block headquarters to be shifted from Gumma to Chitrakonda. The Collector said recommendation for it has been made in 2007 but the block headquarters can only be changed after the completion of the coming census. Regarding the demand for Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) houses, the administration declared that they have decided to provide IAY houses to tribals of cut off areas on priority basis, which has also been endorsed by the Zilla Parishad. About issue of BPL cards, the administration has decided to provide food security to all tribal families of the area through different schemes till the BPL survey is done this year.

Major demand


Speaking on the major demand of the tribals about deployment of more motor launches for their transportation across the reservoir, Mr Krishna said all arrangements are being made so that five more motorboats are available by the end of March. The defunct boats are being repaired on war-footing. Apart from these motor launches, nine power boats are to be provided to panchyats of cut off area for emergency needs. A large ferry is also being procured for transportation of vehicles and heavy instruments needed for developmental projects in the cut off area. Some motor vehicles would also be transported to cut off area for better transportation in the region. It has also been decided to increase frequency of mobile medical units to the cut off villages. Every village in cut off area is to be visited at least twice by medical team. The tribals had demanded opening of health centres in every panchayat of cut off area. The administration has also declared opening of four hostels for!
tribal students in different schools of the area. It may be noted that 151 tribal villages of seven panchayats remain cut off from the main land of Orissa due to the Balimela reservoir.






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