Tribal Backlash Over Move to Rename Bengali Villages

Dist admin was asked to hold gram sabha in Bengali settlers' villages

- DEBA PRASAD DASH @Malkangiri

The state government's poll promise of renaming about 220 villages inhabited by Bengali settlers in Malkangiri district has received a jolt with the Zilla Adivasi Samaj Mahasangha opposing the decision tooth and nail, forcing the district administration to put on hold ongoing gram and palli sabha meetings.

The Revenue & Disaster Management department, recently in a letter, asked the district administration to conduct gram sabha in all the Bengali settlers' villages and send the resolution for approval to grant revenue village status.

Subsequently, the collector asked all tehsildars who in turn asked the respective block development officers to conduct gram sabha and palli sabha in villages inhabited by Bengali settlers.