'Ensure constitutional rights of indigenous people'
153th anniversary of Santal revolution observed in Dinajpur
Indigenous people bring out a rally at Dinajpur town yesterday marking the 153rd anniversary of Santal revolution during the British rule.Photo: STAR
Indigenous people of the country should get their due constitutional rights including access to justice and land rights if they are to contribute to the nation, said speakers at discussion marking the 153rd anniversary of Santal Hool (revolution) yesterday. On the occasion, the Santal community of Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh held separate rallies and procession with the help of local and national non-government organisations (NGOs) in the memory of incident where at least 10,000 Santal male and female sacrificed their lives. They paid tribute to the Santal heroes including Shidhu, Kanu, Chand and Bhairab. The indigenous people of Dinajpur also submitted a memorandum to the chief adviser of caretaker government through Dinajpur deputy commissioner, placing a 15-point demand. The indigenous people's demand includes their constitutional rights, separate land commission, ensuring easy access to education, water and forest resources and access to justice for indigenous people. Discussion, procession and placing of floral wreath in memory of the martyrs marked the anniversary of Santal Revolution. Indigenous people of the country have remained left out from the mainstream of development, speakers said at the meeting held at Dinajpur Natya Samity Auditorium. Demanding access to education and justice and forest resources for the indigenous people, they said proper distribution of khas lands among the indigenous people is needed to enable them to survive and contribute to agriculture. Repression on the indigenous people must go and constitutional recognition and housing rights should be given to them, speakers said at the meeting. They also urged the government to allow quotas for indigenous people in universities, colleges and government jobs, better chance for getting scholarships at home and abroad. Primary education for the indigenous children should be given in their mother languages, they said. The speakers demanded more Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the indigenous people at different regions. Among others, Mongol Hemrom, Rafayal Murmu, Sultan Shah, Dheran Hasda, Lempu Hasda and Nurul Huda Liton spoke at the meeting presided over by Sreemoti Amoli Kisku, convener of Bangladesh Kishani Sava.
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