Malkangiri: Thousands of tribals armed with traditional weapons like bows and arrows staged a massive demonstration in front of the Collector office here on Friday.
Tribals of the district who had gathered under the banner of Malkangiri Zilla Adivasi Samaj Mahasangha demanded community and individual rights over forest land under the Forest Rights Act, implementation of PESA Act among others
They submitted a memorandum containing their charter of demands to the Governor through the Collector.
The Mahasangha has alleged that thousands of tribal families have been displaced in Malkangari due to the construction of various development projects such as Balimela Reservoir and Satiguda Reservoir. Unfortunately, adequate rehabilitation and resettlement measures have not been taken to ensure their rightful claim for alternative land and livelihood.
The Mahasangha has demanded that the concerned authorities should be directed to issue land rights and leases to the displaced tribals.
