Puri: The tribes of Odisha are neglected under the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) regime as they remain deprived of basic necessities like health, education, drinking water and others, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders alleged on Saturday.
The allegation was made by BJP ST Morcha president Ramvichar Netam after inaugurating the party’s two-day national convention here attended by nearly 5,000 representatives of tribal communities along with tribal leaders, MLAs and MPs from across the country.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda and former Odisha Chief Minister Giridhar Gamango were present at the convention. BJP national president, Amit Shah, is also scheduled to address the Adivasi Adhikar convention on February 3. A rally, too, has been planned by the BJP ST Morcha.
Netam blazed his guns on BJD accusing it of lack of sincerity. Speaking for the tribal population of Odisha, he said that they do not get the minimum support price on minor forest produces and still remain cut-off from the rest of the state due to lack of motorable roads. The tribal people do not have access to doctors of primary health service either. The ST leader also highlighted how the poor tribes survive by drinking water from springs due to lack of potable water facilities.
Addressing the convention, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched several schemes for the betterment of the tribal population in the country. He added that The BJP government at the Centre has given priority to tribes in schemes such as Swachha Bharat, Pucca Houses, Drinking Water and others.
BJP Odisha unit president, Basant Panda, alleged that the thousands of tribal students are denied better education in Ekalabya Schools due to lack of sincerity on part of the BJD government in the state. The tribal leaders said that the BJP’s ST Morcha would highlight the anti-tribal attitude of both the BJD and the Congress.
PNN