Gadchiroli Aug. 10 (District correspondent) ‘International Day for World’s Indigenous People’ which is also known as ‘World Tribals Day was celebrated in the city of Gadchiroli by All India Adiwasi Adiwasi Employees Federation and other tribal organizations jointly with a great zeal and enthusiasm on Wednesday.
The programme held at Sanskritu Hall was inaugurated at the hands of Mr. M. M. Atram, retired Additional Commissioner of Social Welfare. Mr. Bharat Yerme, District Federation of the Employees Federation presided while Dr. Namdeo Usendi, former MLA, Dr. Namdeo Kirsan, General Secretary of Pradesh Congress, Ghanshyam Madavi, Vidarbha vice President of Adiwasi Vikas Parishad, Nitaram Kumre, Dr. Sachin Madavi, Assistant Commissioner, social Welfare, retired police commissioner were prominently present as the chief guests.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Atram called upon the tribals to come together and fight for their rights. Unity is the only strength and that should be maintained, he urged mentioning the various problems being faced by the community.
Dr. Usendi said more than 12,000 government jobs of the real tribals have been snatched away by the bogus ones and the government should give these jobs to the rightful tribals. The constitutional rights of the tribals are being taken away and tribals will not tolerate it, he warned.
Dr. Kirsan strongly condemned the Manipur tribal women’s parading incident and demanded stringent action against the accused and also due protection to the tribals there.
Mr. Kumre appealed the tribal youths to go for higher education and grab the administrative posts. Tribals are not weak in talent and they should show it and face the challenges bravely. He also urged the tribal youths to foil the encroachment of the outsiders on the jobs of the tribals.
In his presidential speech, Mr. Yerme called upon the retired tribal employees and officers to come forward and serve the community with their experience and knowledge. He praised the tribal organizations for making this programme grand by coming together and expressed the need of maintaining this unity.
Also seated on the dais were Mr. Prakash Gedam, Shalikram Usendi, Ms. Pushpalata Kumre, Rohidas Raut, Anil Dhamode, Bhaiyyaji Yerme, Hariram Warkhade and others. Mr. Amarsingh Gedam made an introductory speech, Ms. Rajiya Usendi and Dambesh Pendam conducted the programme and Gulabrao Madavi proposed the vote of thanks.
At the outset, a huge procession was taken out from Baburao Madavi square of the city with sky racketing slogans, traditional tribal dances, playing of drums in which thousands of tribal people dressed in their traditional attires participated. The entire atmosphere was filled with a festive look and the vehicular traffic was stalled for some time.
The rally then reached the Sanskriti Hall where it was culminated into a public meeting. A huge crowd of people had assembled for the programme. The entire hall and the galleries were also packed with the audience.
The workers of various tribal organizations including National Adiwasi Mahila Federation, Gondwana Gotul Samiti, Adiwasi Halba Halbi Samiti, Tribal Doctors Association, Gondwana ST Kamgar Samiti, Adiwasi yuwa Parishad, Veer Baburao Prabodhan Samiti, Adiwasi Gond Gowari Sangathana and many others took pains for the success of the programme.
Photo Dr. Namdeo Usendi, Bharat Yerme, M. M. Atram, Dr. Namdeo kirsan and others seated on the dais.
