According to official sources,
around 5,000 tribals of Bilabadi, Danga, Shraba, Mallickpada, Shamapaju,
Birigada and five other villages under the Phulbani Assembly constituency and
around 6,000 voters of five tribal-dominated Gram Panchayats under the
Balliguda Assembly constituency have threatened to boycott polls.
When our reporter asked a tribal
man of Kandhamal district about the reason, he said the Government has failed
to provide civic facilities like proper communication, education, healthcare,
drinking water, electricity and essential services to them for years together.
“If the Government officials or our representatives don’t pay heed to our
demands, why will we cast vote for them,” lamented the man.
On March 31, tribals (mainly
Dangarias) of 112 villages under Muniguda and Bissam Cuttack block in Rayagada
district had followed the same path of the Kandhamal tribals to boycott the
polls. The tribals residing in Niyamgiri hills took the poll boycott decision at
a meeting organised by the Niyamgiri Suraksha Manch at Manda village under
Muniguda block protesting the State Government’s pro-industry policy displacing
the tribals and handing over of their land, forest and water to corporate
houses.
The tribals alleged that the
State Government has failed to provide even basic amenities to them. The
Dangaria Kandh Development Agency set up by the State for development of the
tribe has remained a non-starter, they added.These forest dwellers alleged that
the State has created panic in their areas remanding them to judicial custody
branding them as Maoists if they raise their voice against the corporate houses
which snatch away their legitimate rights on their Jal, Jameen and Jungle.
They also expressed grave concern
over the CRPF personnel and the local police’s coercive measures against the
Dangaria women and the villagers during combing operations in their areas. “If
we go to jungle to collect forest produces or firewood, the police or the CRPF
with the help of forest officials will arrest us branding us as Maoists which
is very unfortunate,” said a tribal leader.
Though the Manch later gave
permission to the tribals, who want to participate in voting, but it clearly
directed the voters to vote against the BJD.
Similarly, the Konda Reddy community of the Malkangiri district has
announced to boycott the polls as the Government is yet to give them tribal
status. The members of the community, who had boycotted the polls in the last
general elections, have put up posters in different areas announcing their
decision.
“If the Andhra Pradesh Government
gives tribal status to lakhs of their community people living there, why the
Odisha Government would not give us the same status,” questioned the tribals in
the posters.
But the demands of some villages
in Raigarh block in Gajapati district are somewhat different. When asked to
spell out the reason behind their poll boycott decision, the tribals said they
have no proper communication to reach block headquarters. They cross around 60
km to reach their block headquarters which is just 17 km away from their
panchayat. “We have seen, so many politicians and officials come here and give
assurance to solve our problems, but nobody comes after the election,” said a
tribal.
In Mayurbhanj district, people of
three panchayats, Gudgudia, Astakumara and Barehipani, adjacent to the Similipal
National Park
Besides all these explanations,
there is another reason behind the mass boycott of polls in these tribal areas.
There is a secret fear psychosis prevailing in these areas due to the presence
of Maoists. As the Ultras don’t believe in system and electoral politics, they
protest it frequently and also persuade the tribals to boycott the polls by
putting posters in the villages.
The Pioneer, Thursday, 10 April 2014
HEMANTA KUMAR PRADHAN
