from the hindu
feb 8, 2011
feb 8, 2011
is People's representatives blamed for problems facing tribals
All major political parties as well as the local MP and MLA have completely turned a blind to the problems and plight of people of Narayanpatna block in Koraput district alleged Nachika Linga, leader of controversial Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS), who is claimed to be one of the most wanted persons for Orissa and Andhra Pradesh police.
Speaking to The Hindu over phone from Narayanpatna, Nachika claimed that he was living openly with his tribal brethren in Narayanpatna block, while police was wrongly terming him to be a fugitive. “It is a sharp contrast that Koraput MP Jayaram Pangi and local MLA of Laxmipur Jhinna Hikaka, who are both from the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) do not prefer to come over to meet and discuss with people of Narayanpatna to help them sort out their land rights related issues. But when I and my organisation take up the issues related to genuine rights of tribals we are being termed criminals,” he said. According to him these elected representatives have not visited people of Narayanpatna since past few years.
The CMAS activists have recently decided to motivate the poor tribal families so that they do not collect subsidised rice at Rs. 2 per kilogram from the administration as a mark of peaceful protest. Families in Tentulipadar, Bijaghati, Podapadar, Gumandi, Balipata, Borigi, Langulpeta panchayats are being motivated to take part in this new form of peaceful agitation.
“We tribals want our genuine legal rights over land we cultivate and we feel this subsidised rice is nothing but ‘alm' from the government to demean the tribal pride,” Nachika said. According to him large scale corruption continued in the distribution process of this subsidised rice and it was also being tactfully used by touts to destroy unity among tribals in villages.
‘Ground realities'
He categorically denied his links with Maoists, which is a major allegation against him by the police and administration.
“I and my organisation have always tried to refrain from violence and opt for peaceful agitation” he said. He alleged that in the name of Maoist links CMAS activists were facing atrocities in the hands of security personnel. Personnel of Border Security Force (BSF) who do not know anything about ground realities, local language and culture have become a menace, he alleged. It may be noted that CMAS is demanding removal of BSF camps from Narayanpatna area.
According to him all mainstream political parties had showed up their real colours in relation to Narayanpatna. He said he was least bothered about the hardship that he is facing now as he had faced much more than that since childhood.
According to him his family was bonded labourers of a landlord for generations and he used to earn only Rs. 5 per month as monthly wage, before he decided to oppose similar exploitation of tribals in his area by becoming leader of CMAS. Interestingly the house of the landlord who was involved in exploiting Nachika and his family at Podapadar village has now become a camp of the BSF, which is trying to track down Nachika.
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