BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Sunday announced that a two-hour ‘rasta roko’ agitation at all district headquarters towns will be held on Monday to protest against the indifference of the State Government towards the welfare of dalits and tribals.
The rasta roko will start from 10 am and continue till 12 pm, chairperson of the ST Department of OPCC Pradip Majhi said.
The OPCC has announced the rasta roko agitation demanding compensation of `12 lakh each to the families of children who have died due to Japanese Encephalitis in Malkangiri district. The other demands include action against police personnel involved in the firing on innocent tribals and dalits at Gumudumaha in Kandhamal district in which six persons died.
Alleging that dalits and tribals have been neglected during the 17-year rule of the BJD, the OPCC demanded that vacant post of doctors in tribal-dominated districts including Malkangiri should be filled up by the Government on a priority basis.
Criticising the visit of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to Malkangiri on Saturday, the OPCC alleged that compensation of `3 lakh each for families of victims of Japanese Encephalitis was announced keeping in view the ensuing panchayat election.
The fast-unto-death, launched by Majhi and Congress MLA Krushna Chandra Sagaria demanding rights for tribals and dalits, entered fifth day on Sunday.