Hundreds of Adivasis, under the leadership of CPI(ML) Liberation and the All India Agricultural and Rural Labour Association (AIARLA), held a militant protest before the Bisam Cuttack Tehsil Office on July 7 demanding the repeal of the VB-GRAMG law and the protection of Adivasi land, forest and livelihood rights. The protesters submitted an 11-point memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister of Odisha.
The memorandum demanded the immediate distribution of ceiling surplus land among landless and poor families, homestead land pattas for all eligible poor, Adivasi and Dalit families under the Basundhara Scheme, repeal of the VB-GRAMG law, and withdrawal of false criminal cases against Adivasis resisting displacement and defending their constitutional rights. It also demanded an end to the exploitation of natural resources in the name of development, effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, protection of the powers of Gram Sabhas, and the complete repeal of the CAMPA Act, calling it a fraud in the name of afforestation that promotes unscientific plantations while undermining Adivasi rights over forests and weakening the constitutional authority of Gram Sabhas.
The protesters further demanded an increase in MGNREGA wages to Rs 600 per day, 50 kg of rice for ration card holders, enhancement of assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to Rs 5 lakh, and 300 units of free electricity for all poor and BPL households. They also called for a fair procurement system through the Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation for minor forest produce such as mahua flowers, sal seeds, broom grass, turmeric, tamarind, cashew and other forest produce collected by Adivasi communities. The memorandum further demanded regular field visits by Revenue Inspectors and Amins to identify and settle the land rights of Adivasi families occupying government and forest land and speedy issuance of Scheduled Tribe caste certificates.
Addressing the gathering, Mahendra Parida, CPI(ML) Liberation State Committee member, and Tripati Gamang, District Secretary, said that the ongoing policies of land acquisition, exploitation of forest resources and anti-Adivasi laws have intensified the hardships faced by tribal communities. They urged the Odisha government to immediately accept the memorandum and ensure justice, land rights, forest rights and dignified livelihoods for Adivasi people.
