By Silvester D' Souza

Daijiworld Media Network— Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Oct 14: Koragabhivridhi Sanghatane held a day and night sit in of protests in front of Vaddarse grama panchayat office urging for dismissal of grama panchayat PDO Lolakshi. “The native Koraga community is being neglected. If Koraga community women go to the grama panchayat with their problems, the panchayat development official repeatedly harasses them and sends them back insulting the Koraga community,” they claimed.

The Koraga community women who participated in the protests urged for the dismissal of the PDO who they said harasses the community. “A pro-people PDO who is not biased against the community should be appointed. All the rules of the backward tribe welfare department should be followed. There is no need to register houses. Those who are living on government land and do not have title deeds should also be allowed to build houses. The bills of houses should be approved immediately. Families who do not have toilets should be identified and the toilets should be sanctioned for them. Electricity and drinking water facilities should be provided in Madhuvana, Kavadi, Bannadi, and Manamballi Koraga colonies. Scholarships should be provided to community students from the amount set aside by the panchayat. Panchayat should provide 20 percent for emergency medical needs in the community, land should be reserved, and a crematorium and community hall constructed, an approach road should be constructed to the Koraga colony and street lights should be provided,” they urged.

“Grama panchayat PDO Lolakshi had taken two days leave from the panchayat in view of the protests and the matter has not been brought to my notice,” alleged Hema, president, grama panchayat. “A report will be submitted to the chief executive of taluk panchayat urging that disciplinary action be taken against the PDO who has caused so many problems,” she said.

Koraga organization district secretary Ranga Koraga and more than 60 members participated in the protests.