Tribals stage pro-development rally in city

Tribals from the economically backward Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, for long cut off from the mainstream, today turned up in droves here, seeking development and employment.

Stalked by malaria and malnutrition and battling threat from Naxalites, the tribals held a peaceful protest in front of the Governor's house, pitching for basic human amenities like health, infrastructure, education and employment.

The pro-development rally comes as a paradigm shift in the tribals' standpoint as they have been known to shun the mainstream and remain content in the midst of hills for sustenance.

The tribals congregated here under the banner of the Rayagada-Kalahandi Development Forum. Drifting away from their well entrenched anti-industry stand, the tribals voiced strong opinions against the NGOs (non-government organisations), which misled them from the development plank.

Ajay Mishra, convener of the Forum said: "The lure of anti-development NGO driven brigade, which has been dominant in the region, is slowly waning. The villagers who have been living in fear, have mustered courage to speak out against it due to the efforts of the police in Rayagada and Kalahandi."

"They (the NGOs) have constantly led us to believe that industries are bad for us. We believed them for a long time but now, it has got us nowhere", said Parmanand Majhi, president of Kalahandi SC/ST Development Forum.

Plagued by the lack of visible infrastructure in the form of roads and irrigation and lack of schools and hospitals, the tribals of these resource rich districts were reeling under helplessness and deprivation. With education and skill development non-existent in their remote villages, the scope for employment was bleak.