Gadchiroli Oct. 15 (District Correspondent) A massive Adiwasi Akrosh Mahamorcha was taken out by the tribals in the district on the collectorate here today to press the demand that the Dhangar community should not be included in the list of Scheduled Tribes and other important demands.
The morcha started from the Shivaji college grounds on Dhanora Road and proceeded to the collectorate walking around 5 kilometres of distance on foot winding through the main streets of the city. This was the largest ever morcha witnessed during the recent years that attracted the attention of the people and the administration.
The entire atmosphere was filled with the slogans and the yellow dupattas and caps worn by the participant tribals. The morcha turned into a public meeting on reaching the collectorate. A delegation of the morchaists then called on the district collector Avishyant Panda and submitted him a memorandum addressed to the chief minister of Maharashtra.
The other demands in the memorandum included the 12500 posts on which bogus tribals were appointed be filled in by taking up a special campaign, PESA be implemented strictly and no decision on land, water and forest be taken without the consent of the gram sabhas, Mana community be included in OBC and SBC category as earlier, Ashram School students be provided facilities as earlier and DBT scheme be stopped, supreme court decision of sub classification should not be executed, schedule V be strictly implemented, Gondi language be included in schedule VIII etc.
The morcha was led by Dr. Dewaji Tofa, senior tribal activist, Dr. Milind Narote, MLA from Gadchiroli, Mr. Ramdas Masram, MLA from Armori, Dr. Namdeo Usendi, Dr. Devrao Holi, former MLAs, Ms. Bhagyashree Atram Halgekar, former ZP chief, Mr. Madhav Gawad, convenor of Adiwasi Arakshan Bachao Kriti Samiti, Adv. Vishwajeet Kowase, secretary of national youth congress, Adv. Lalsu nNgoti, former ZP councillor, Prashant Madavi of Gondwana Gantantra Party, Ms. Pushpalata Kumre, Gulab Madavi, Kunal Kowe, Anand Kangale, Sadanand Taram, Amol Kulmethe, Sonu Alam, Malta Pudo, Vidya Duga, Vilas Narote and others.
The leaders strongly opposed the demand of the Dhangar community to include it in the ST category and warned that intensive agitation will be launched throughout the state if their demand is accepted by the government. The original tribals have already been suffering various problems and injustice and it has remained backward all these years. Any act to do injustice with the community will not at all be tolerated, they also warned.
