Kendriya Karyakari Mandal of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, which met in Kolkata on September 10, demanded the constitution of an independent inquiry commission to look into the reasons and solutions of the violent incidents taking place in NC Hills region of Assam for last six months. In a resolution adopted at the meeting, the Karyakari Mandal said the state and central governments must be sensitive enough to the woes of the victims of terrorist uprising and do the needful at the earliest to curb the violence and bring normalcy in North Cachar Hill district. The Karyakari Mandal also exhorted the Assam government to take special care so that similar violent incidents do not take place in other parts of the state.
The Karyakari Mandal also demanded that the inquiry report by National Investigation Agency (NIA) should be submitted immediately and its findings should be made public for the information of one and all. “The government must provide adequate relief to compensate the loss of property and life of the victims. Since the medical facilities in the relief camps are almost nil, the government must act swiftly and decisively to check the spread of epidemic. Necessary arrangements must be made available immediately for the education of school-going children, now sheltering in various relief camps,” the resolution said.
The Karyakari Mandal alleged that the Church-supported some outfits from Nagaland and neighbouring states are adding salt to the injuries of the victims. In the name of providing relief materials to the victims, the Christian missionaries are trying to convert the helpless Dimasas and Jemes to Christianity. This is a violation of human rights, insult of the Constitution as well as an action against national interest. This is also against the secular ethics of the country.
“These incidents of violence are not new. Earlier this region has witnessed bloody incidents planned by underground outfits causing damage to the local communities. The time has come for the nation to understand the problem in the right context and should not neglect those labelling them as ethnic clashes, class wars and communal conflicts or a matter of regional concern,” the resolution warned.
In another resolution the Karyakari Mandal took a serious note of the issuance of fake caste certificates in Kandhamal district of Orissa as pointed out by the Justice Sharat Chandra Mohapatra inquiry Commission in its interim report and demanded that all the state government should be strict and vigilant on issuance of caste certificates especially the ST certificates and an exemplary action should be taken against the officers found guilty in the issuance of such certificates. It appealed to the people to stand behind janjatis to protect their rights. The Karyakari Mandal demanded the Orissa government to look into the cases of fake caste certificates in a time-bound manner. At the same time the meeting also demanded the constitution of a high-level empowered committee/agency by central government to monitor the implementation of legislations and directions given by it to the state government in this regard.
Justice Mohapatra Commission appointed by the Orissa government on Kandhamal disturbance clearly stated that the fake cast certificates, tribal land encroachments and religious conversions are the main causes of Kandhamal disturbance. “In Kandhamal, a large number of non-tribal people are enjoying ST facilities in education, employment and election by getting the fake caste certificates obtained from the revenue officers/MPs/MLAs fraudulently, resulting into deprival of number of genuine ST persons from getting the reservation facilities. This is the main cause of trouble in Kandhamal of Orissa. Issuance of fake caste certificates has been going on for a long time due to ignorance of Vanvasis and negligence and corrupt practices of officers concerned. Nearly 800 such complaints of fake certificates have been verified and submitted to Orissa government by the state agency itself, which enquired under the directions of government of Orissa within a short span of few months. The central government has specifically instructed the state governments to be very careful in issuing caste certificates. The certificates issuing officer should be punished, if found guilty along with the fake certificate-holder,” the resolution said.
After the Karyakari Mandal meeting the National Conference began on September 11 at Binani Bhavan. The conference was inaugurated by Swami Devanand Brahmachari of Prem Mandir. Kalyan Ashram president Shri Jagdevram Oraon, Shri Laxmi Kant Tiwari of Kolkata, Shri Khagan Mandi, Kalyan Ashram vice presidents Shri Moren Singh Purti and Shri Jaleshwar Brahma also shared the dais. A total of 552 delegates from 32 states of the country participated in the meeting.
RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi also visited the conference along with Kshetra Pracharak Shri Ajit Mahapatra, Prant Pracharak Shri Rama Pad Paul and organising secretary of Arogya Bharati Shri Bhaskarrao Kulkarni.
Joint general secretary of Kalyan Ashram Shri Kripa Prasad Singh informed the conference that service projects run by the Kalyan Ashram increased to 14,441 and the number of full-time workers also increased to 1405. He said the grass-root workers of Kalyan Ashram established contact with 49,613 Vanvasi villages throughout the country. A total of 9,67,661 patients were treated during the last year through health centres and the number of beneficiaries of schools and hostels as well as single-teacher schools are 1,02,118. He said the Sports Festival of Kalyan Ashram would be organised in Solan, Himalchal Pradesh, from December 28 to 30. It would be a big national event to showcase the sports talent of Vanvasi youth.
A long colourful procession was taken out on September 12 by the delegates of Kalyan Ashram from Pathuria Ghat to Central Avenue’s Mahajati Sadan, where the annual function of Poorvanchal Kalyan Ashram was held. Speaking at the annual function, RSS Sahsarkaryavah Shri Dattatreya Hosbale expressed concern over the plight of nine crore Vanvasis even after six decades of Independence. He severely criticised the procedure of acquiring the land of Vanvasis for so-called developmental projects and SEZs. He said everybody wants to grab the land of Vanvasis but nobody wants to rehabilitate them. He said it is the duty of both the urban and government agencies to uplift the Vanvasis as they can also contribute in the reconstruction of the nation.
Presiding over the function Shri Deendayal Gupta stressed the need for bringing back the Vanvasis to their original roots, who have been converted to Christianity or Islam. Praising the efforts of Kalyan Ashram he said Vanvasis today needed help in making them self-reliant and not charity for time being. After the function, a play on the life of Kalyan Ashram founder Vanyogi Balasaheb Deshpande was staged by Kalyan Ashram workers. It highlighted the life and work of the late Deshpandeji and the present activities of Kalyan Ashram.
Earlier, speaking at the inaugural ceremony Swami Devanand Brahmachari said it is the failure of all the governments that even after 62 years of Independence we failed to improve the living standard of our nine crore Vanvasi brethren. He appealed to the countrymen to extend help to Vanvasis. Speaking at the concluding ceremony, Shri Jagdevram Oraon appealed to the countrymen to extend every possible help in making the Vanvasis self-reliant. Kalyan Ashram general secretary Shri Gunvant Singh Kothari presented the activity report of the previous year.
(FOC)
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