Jhodia community of Odisha seeks ST status; submits memo to Jual Oram

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Jul 25, 2014 at 3:49 PM Updated On : Jul 25, 2014 at 4:40 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Bhubaneswar, July 25:

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A delegation of Paroja Samaj of Kashipur in Rayagada district of Odisha today submitted a memorandum to the Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram seeking inclusion of the Jhodia community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list that will enable them to avail the benefits provided by the government.

The community president Makaranda Muduli, said the Minister assured the delegates that the Jhodia community will be included in the ST list in six months’ time.

“The Jhodia community has knocked the doors of everybody. Disappointed out of struggle and fight for our rights, we boycotted the general elections in 2009 and as well as Panchayati Raj elections in 2012. After continuous struggle, the Chief Minister and Governor of Odisha have also written to the centre for inclusion of the community in the ST list. So, we would like to submit that Jhodias are not denied or deprived of their basic human rights,” said Muduli in the memorandum.

Informing that about 75% population of Rayagada district are SC/ST and the district is known for its backwardness in terms of communication, education and starvation, he said if the community is not included in the SC list, the socio-economic situation and education would not improve in the region.