The CPI on Sunday said that the State Government was not at all concerned about the tribals. This can be seen from the sluggish land distribution among the landless families.
“I don’t understand why it should take five long years for the Government to complete the distribution process,” senior CPI leader AB Bardhan told mediapersons here.
Bardhan’s remark was in response to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s announcement on Friday that all the adivasis in the tribal sub-plan blocks would be given land pattas by 2016-17. If the Chief Minister is really concerned about welfare of tribals, he could provide them land in one year. The Government could always make special arrangements to give a push to the process.
Bardhan and CPI State secretary Dibakar Nayak slammed the Odisha Government for providing land to industries and business houses at throwaway price while neglecting farmers.
While welcoming BJD’s protest against Nalco divestment, Bardhan said instead of staging isolated protests the regional party should involve other parties and organisations to make it people’s agitation.