Publish Date: | Wed, 23 Feb 2022 03:01 AM (IST)
Jagdalpur. The tribal and indigenous societies of Bastar have called upon the people to understand the importance of Gram Sabha. The heads of various native societies and the office-bearers of Sarva Adivasi have said that the Fifth Schedule and PESA Act are in force in Bastar but it is not being strictly followed. This is because the awareness about it socially has not yet come as it is expected.
On Tuesday, these things were said at the closing ceremony of the programs going on since February 4 on Bhoomkal Diwas in Chaykur, village Netanar, the birthplace of the hero Gundadhur, of the Bhumkal movement. Representatives of tribal and other societies from different areas of Bastar division were involved in the closing ceremony. In the meeting, the entire tribal society unanimously opposed the conversion and called upon them to accept the culture and worship law of their society. The senior functionary of Sarva Adivasi Samaj (Potai faction) Prakash Thakur and other speakers focused on empowering the Gram Sabha.
Addressing the gathering, Prakash Thakur said that the Gram Sabha has got enough powers in the Fifth Schedule area. It has been seen that our people take the Gram Sabha very lightly. The result of our not showing seriousness about attending the Gram Sabha is that the arbitrariness of the administration is seen. He called upon the societies of all the tribals and the native residents of Bastar to insist on compulsory inclusion of every person in the Gram Sabha so that the Gram Sabha is strong and no one can impose its arbitrariness.
Senior tribal leader Pappuram Nag said that our ancestors fought to save water, forest land. Krantiveer Gundadhur organized the people of the society and played the role of a hero in the Bhumkal movement. Remembering the deeds of our ancestors, we have to keep making continuous efforts to protect our identity and motherland. Gangaram Nag said that for the last few years it has been seen that people of non-tribal class who have come from outside are engaged in grabbing the land of tribal class by marrying women of tribal class. One has to be careful with such people. In the meeting, Mahadev Nag and some other speakers said that the natives of tribal-dominated Bastar are being deceived and cheated, such people have to be careful. An appeal was also made to stay away from conversion.
Not serious about making rules for PESA law
Speakers in the meeting said that it took years to prepare the manual for the PESA Act. The rules have not yet been prepared. The speakers accused the state government that seriousness was not being taken in this matter. This has led to delays in the implementation of the Fifth Schedule. This situation is not beneficial for the tribal community of Bastar. The gathering was also addressed by the descendants of Gundadhur, Jaydev Dhur and Sonsari Baghel, Mangduram, Sitaram, Loknath Nag, Libururam Kashyap, Lalit Kumeti, Santu Maurya etc. The meeting started with garlanding and worshiping the statue of Gundadhur. Cultural and religious rituals were also performed on this occasion.
Posted By: Nai Dunia News Network