FOC
Orissa unit of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (VKA) has urged both the Centre and state governments to include great Vanvasi personalities in the textbooks.
In its state level workers conference at Berhampur, the VKA has further demanded the state government to take immediate steps to preserve places of worship of Vanvasis and give permanent ownership rights over their landed prosperities in form of pattas to them in the state.
At national level, the personalities like Ekalavya, Punjavil, Birsa Munda, Sidhokana and Talkar Chandu need to be included in textbooks while Oriya Vanvasi personalities like Poet Bhima Bhoi, Biswabasu Sabar, Chakra Bisoi, Dohra Bisoi, Rindo Majhi, Dharnidhar Bhuyan, Nirmal Munda, Tama Dora and Sahid Laxman Naik are prominent. VKA has also demanded inclusion of these Vanvasi personalities in textbooks of different classes. For that VKA has also demanded government to encourage people and raise fund for research on Vanvasi personalities.
Vanvasi people worship village goddess named as Sarna Sthan, Jahir Sthan and Dharani Penu, etc. However unscrupulous elements are grabbing those lands illegally. The VKA has urged the government to take special drive to preserve places of worships and take legal action against illegal takeovers.
Reiterating their demand for providing permanent ownership rights of the lands on which Vanvasis are living over the years, VKA has urged the government to do it early to make Vanvasis to enjoy benefit of government schemes.
