The Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) on Friday held a high-level meeting of its tribal leaders at the party headquarters, Rajiv Bhavan, in Raipur to discuss issues affecting indigenous communities in the state. The meeting was attended by CPCC president Deepak Baij, Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant, former deputy chief minister T S Singh Deo, and former minister Tamradhwaj Sahu.
12-Point Resolution Adopted
During the meeting, Baij moved a 12-point political and social resolution, which was unanimously passed by the members. The resolution demands an immediate cancellation of permissions granted by the union ministry of environment, forest and climate change for felling lakhs of trees and diverting 1,742 hectares of forest land for coal mining in Hasdeo Arand, Parsa East Kete Basan, Kete Extension, and iron ore mining in Bailadila.
Key Demands
- Reservation: Implementation of 32% reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in proportion to their population, urging the Governor to clear the pending reservation bill.
- Forest Rights: Strict enforcement of the Forest Rights Act and the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA).
- Rehabilitation: Compensation for victims of fake encounters and withdrawal of over 25,000 permanent and temporary warrants against tribals. Release of tribals jailed on allegations of being Naxal sympathisers.
- Uniform Civil Code: Exemption for the tribal community from the proposed Uniform Civil Code to protect their ancient customary traditions, marriage systems, and social structures.
- Employment: Special recruitment drives for unemployed tribal youth and reopening of closed schools in Bastar and Sarguja divisions.
- Gram Sabha Authority: Strict adherence to PESA Act and Fifth Schedule; government must not bypass Gram Sabha authority in Bastar and Sarguja for land acquisition or development projects.
- Identity: Opposition to the term 'Vanvasi' used by RSS and BJP; demand for a separate column for tribals in the 2026-2027 Census.
The leaders also reviewed the implementation of the Forest Rights Act and PESA, raising concerns over displacement of tribals due to land acquisition and alleged efforts by the BJP and RSS to disrupt social harmony in tribal areas. The meeting concluded with plans to strengthen the Congress party organisation at the booth level across these regions.
