Punish fake certificate holders: Tribals FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2011 23:12 SUDHIRMISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 3 User Rating: / 0 PoorBest

Punish fake certificate holders: Tribals
FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2011 23:12 SUDHIRMISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 3
User Rating: / 0
PoorBest
Hundreds of tribals of Balangir, Sonepur, Boudh and other parts of western Odisha gheraoed the Collectorate here on Friday, demanding action against the fake caste certificate holders.

The tribals, dressed in their traditional attires and flaunting their traditional arms and weapons along with placards came marching through the town and rallied at the Collector's office under the leadership of Niranjan Bisi, Brajakishore Singhbhoi and Satyanarayn Bhoi of the Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangh.

"We had submitted a list of 357 fake caste certificate holders to the administration and only 31 fake certificates were cancelled in last four years. Many fake tribals have obtained a stay order against it. It is the duty of the State Government to vacate the stay order and punish the fake certificate holders," said Paschim Odisha Adivasi Kalyan Sangh general secretary Niranjan Bisi.

Bisi said a State-level scrutiny committee was formed to look into the cases of fake caste certificates and it has passed final order only in six cases since January, 2010. He alleged that following formation of the committee, a Vigilance cell was formed to protect influential persons who hold such fake certificates. "We demand withdrawal of State-level scrutiny committee. All fake caste certificates should be cancelled as per the Odisha Caste Certificate for ST/SC Rule of 1980," observed Bisi. He also demanded that criminal proceedings should be initiated against those non-tribals who have enjoyed the benefits of tribals under the fake certificates and the amount of such benefits in terms of money should be recovered from them.

We are taking today's rally to register our protest that even today fake caste certificate holders are enjoying the benefits too. We demand immediate action them. Unless it is done, tribals would force to take up arms in future, Brajakishore Singhbhoi, president of Balangir Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangh said further. The SC/ST atrocity Act is being misused and tribals are not getting justice properly, Singhbhoi said. Rather than taking action against them, officials are harassing the genuine tribal's observed Sri Niranjan bisi alleged further. Tribals are being harassed in the district .Rather than taking action against the accused the police is threatening the victim, alleged Sri BK Singhbhoi President of Zilla Adivasi Kalyan sangh.False cases, against the tribals should be withdrawn.

Moreover tribals of Niyamgiri in Kalahandi should be provided protection and the lease of forest are cancelled further and the Gandhmardarn Mountains which is a source of livelihood of thousands of tribal's of western Odisha should be declared a National property, observed Bisi further. Later they submitted a memorandum to CM through district administration.