Bhubaneswar, January 2 (IANS). Following the large-scale caste violence that broke out in the tribal-dominated Malkangiri district last month, the Odisha government on Thursday took a series of decisions to address various grievances of tribals in the district.
These decisions were taken at a high-level meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), it was decided that Malkangiri District Collector Somesh Kumar Upadhyay will review hundreds of pending cases under Regulation 2/56 (as amended in 2002) every fortnight. Also, Southern Revenue Divisional Commissioner Sangram Keshari Mahapatra and the state government will be informed about its progress.
The state government has also decided to grant permanent land leases to landless and homeless tribal families in the state.
The CMO further said, “Arrangements will be made expeditiously to provide permanent ‘lease’ under FRA (Forest Rights Act) and OGLS (Odisha Government Land Settlement Act). The district collector will review the progress every month and inform the state government.”
The Odisha government also pledged to grant permanent ‘pattas’ to families displaced by the Machhakund Irrigation Project.
As per the decisions of the state high-level meeting, Devranjan Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, will conduct a quarterly review of all revenue related matters of Malkangiri district and report to the state government.
“The water resources department will take steps in the coming days to provide irrigation facilities to the upland agricultural lands of tribal and other communities located near water bodies,” the CMO said.
The state government also decided that arrangements will be made to ensure that tribal applicants can benefit from the Mukhyamantri Krishi Vikas Yojana, PMEGP (Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme), and PMFME (Prime Minister’s Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises).
The vacant multilingual education teacher posts in Koya, Didayi and Bonda tribal languages at primary school level will be filled immediately by the State School and Mass Education Department.
Additionally, the state government resolved to create more seats in higher secondary schools in Malkangiri district so that tribal and other students can continue their studies after class 10.
–IANS
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