Ashish Tripathi TNN |
After its enactment, a struggle began to get the Act implemented. Though it met with little success, it made the tribal youth gravitating towards `armed revolution’ realise that rights can be achieved democratically , thus playing in important role in defeating Naxalism in the area. After FRA, no major Naxal violence has been reported in Sonbhadra in the past 10 years.
“Since tribals constitute less than 2% of UP’s population and are scattered across the state, they are not considered as vote bank. In Sonbhadra, however, tribal and forest workers make up 60% of the population. We have joined hands with Dalits, taking the strength to 80%.Duddhi and Obra constituencies of the district have been reserved for STs. Now, our voice will be heard,“ said Sukalo Gond (55), leader of the Kaimur Kshetra Majdoor Kisan Mahila Sangharsh Samiti, an association of tribal and forest workers.
Rajeev Dikshit |
However, if Jageshwar Gond of Manbasa village in Duddhi ST reserved assembly constitutency , located along Jharkhand border, is to be believed, people in remote areas never see big politicians coming to their areas to address election meetings.“The people here are taken to Robertsganj and other townships in buses by the leaders of different political parties to take part in their rallies or public meetings during the elections,“ said Savitri Gond, a local. Records of Sonebhadra district administration also prove that there are less permission seekers for holding major political meetings in the remote zones of the district, which are full of difficult terrains.
After announcement of elections, SP chief and CM Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati as well as Shah preferred to hold their public meetings at Robertsganj only . Rahul held a meeting at Duddhi market.Union home minister Rajnath Singh surely reached an interior zone in Myorpur area to hold his meeting but no bid leader moved in the rural belt of the districts.
March 12, 2017 at 7:27 pm
The tribals and women struggling for their land rights have become a threat. This is deplorable