Protest against tribal panel chief appointment held

Hundreds of Adivasis of Rayagada block in Gajapati district took out a rally protesting against the nexus between corrupt Adivasi officers and block and district level officials.

The rally was started from Rayagada weekly market to the block office.

The villagers alleged that due to a nexus between these corrupt officials, there is no drinking water available in the villages. The tribal villages are deprived of basic amenities like proper road and electricity etc.

There are schools running without teachers and no electricity for years while in the hospitals, there are no doctors and the compounders run the show for which the innocent people are denied proper treatment, they alleged.

The protest was conducted under the banner of "Anchalika Samasya Samadhan Samiti" under the leadership of Naba Kishor Sabara. Gajapati Zilla Parishad Chairman Anita Rani also participated and spoke against officials who are neck- deep in corruption.

Former Sarapanch candidate Dhanamani Karjee threatened to intensify the agitation in case no step is taken to the take the corrupt officials to task.

She also named a few persons who were taking advantage in the name of being Adivasi leaders.

Recently, the State Government has appointed Antarjami Gomango  in the post of Special Tribal Commission Chairman. He was not appointed because he fits the bill rather he paid huge kickback to a local BJD leader and a former Minister, she alleged.

She also alleged Gomango was using his private phone to contact with the officers to deal with the percentage. If anyone is not willing to pay, then they are rejecting the applications to provide work order or any kind of appointment.

It is a protest to warn the State Government to remove him from his post as a Special Tribal Commission Chairman and to appoint an honest and eligible person instead, said she further.

Huge corruption is going on in the Rayagada block office; eligible persons are not getting caste certificate, while huge irregularities are made in different schemes including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and distribution of ration card, etc.

All party leaders and people of Rayagada block participated in the protest. Gouranga Gomango, Nandini Samal and Prasanta Malick among others attended the rally. They also burnt the effigy of Antarjami Gomango and submitted a memorandum to the BDO.