KSSS threatens agitation

Kui Samaj Samannaya
Samiti(KSSS), an apex body of the Kui-speaking tribals of Kandhamal district, have threatned to launch an agitation if their long standing demands including end to exploitation of tribals by non-tribals are not fulfilled immediately.
KSSS led by its secretary Lambador Kanhar, who is also a BJP leader, submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik through Kandhamal district Collector Yamini Sadhangi last week.
"We had submitted a 34-points charter demands to the chief minister on January 25, 2008 ahead of the communal riots of 2008 and reminded him repeatedly during the last seven years to fulfill the genuine demands of Kandhamal. But, the state govenrment maintained an indifferent attitude to the sentiment of KSSS," Kanhar said.

The chief minister, he said, had categorically assured him that all demands of KSSS barring three or four demands would be solved immediately. "However, nothing has happened so far," Kanhar alleged.
Kanhar said immediately after the 2008 riots, Patnaik had assured KSSS to review all plans and programmes of Kandhamal district personally with a view to expedite the development work and poverty eradication schemes. But it has not happened.
"To our utter misfortune, tribal people are being exploited by the non-tribal people and cases of fake caste certificate are also not being disposed of quickly. As per the assurance of the chief minister, reservation of posts up to 50 for Kandhamal youths is also not yet made," the memorandum said.

The state government had also assured KSSS priority will be given to the local youths for recruitment of class-III and Class-IV posts, forest land distribution and settlement in favour of tribal people. But nothing has been done so far even after seven years, they alleged.