Baripada: Members of Kudumi Sena from three States have launched a march towards Delhi to gherao Parliament on December 12 protesting the delay in granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Kudumi community.
The march began from Baripada in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. Founder of Kudumi Sena, Jamuni Mohanta said the march is a fight for their rights as the ST status of Kudumi community was withdrawn without any reason on September 6, 1950.
He said if their demands are not met, they will resort to economic blockade in three states – Odisha, West Bengal, and Jharkhand. They will block the roads, railways, and will not allow any government or private offices, and schools, or colleges to function.
Mohanta informed that there are 25 lakh Kudumi people in Odisha. If their demand for ST status is not fulfilled before the 2023 elections, they will intensify the agitation.
