Odisha To Raise Inclusion Of Communities In ST List & Coal Issue At EZC Meeting

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is likely to raise a host of issues, including inclusion of over 160 communities of the state in the list of Scheduled Tribes and matters relating to coal mines and salt extraction, at the Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) meeting to be held in Kolkata on November 5.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is expected to attend the EZC meeting to be chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Stating that Odisha will take part in the meeting, Development Commissioner Pradeep Jena said that the Centre has agreed to consider proposals for inclusion of several communities in the ST list of the state, but it is yet to happen.

It may be noted here that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has already written several letters to the Centre about state’s recommendation for inclusion of more than 160 communities of Odisha in the ST list of the state with the approval of Tribal Advisory Council since 1978.

Naveen had in a letter to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda stated that a Task Force under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs was understood to have recommended 9 proposals from Odisha as priority cases for inclusion in the ST list of the state in the year 2014, but the same is yet to be notified in the Presidential Order.

The Chief Minister had emphasised that inclusion in the ST list will go a long way in helping these deprived communities by giving them their much-needed recognition as STs and ensuring social justice.

He further pointed out that since 2011 a number of communications have been made by him with the Central Government on this sensitive matter.

Among other issues, the state government will also raise issues relating to return of land after completion of mining operations in coal mine areas, Jena said. The land where salt extraction is not taking place also needs to be returned, Jena added.

Sources said issues regarding the completion of the eastern freight corridor, international borders with Bengal and Sikkim, rising cases of smuggling across the border are likely to be discussed at the EZC meeting. The Chief Ministers of Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and Sikkim will be present at the meering.