A
new forum has been set up in Odisha to demand formation of an autonomous
regional council for KKBK region - undivided Koraput, Kalahandi, Bolangir and
Kandhmal districts.
The forum that was set up on
Friday at Shastri Bhawan of Nabarangpur, leaders of Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri,
Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bolangir, Suabarnpur, Boudh and Kandhamal are
the 10 districts under KKBK region present at the meeting.
The
forum will fight for the fulfillment of aspirations of the people of 10
districts and formation of an autonomous council allowed under the
constitutional framework, the convener of the forum senior advocate, N Ahmed,
said.
According to the decisions
taken on Friday, the forum will be a non-political organisation and people from
all walks of life from the KKBK region will be a part of it, Ahmed said.
In addition, a decision was
also taken to collect all data concerning the region and its people,
contribution of revenue of the region to the government, funds allotted to the
region, poverty, backwardness and economy of the region, deprivation of basic
needs, state of health, education, employment problems and regional imbalance,
he said.
The forum on Friday alleged
that successive governments have failed in providing basic needs to the people
of the region even after 72 years of independence and therefore there has been
no development in the region.
Speaking at the meeting
Congress leader Pradeep Majhi said that people of the region have not got the
rights and benefits which have been assured in the constitution. As a result of
which a big gap has been created between the KKBK region and other areas in the
state.
Former BJP MP from
Nabarangpur, Parsuram Majhi, welcoming the formation of the forum to fight for
KKBK Autonomous Regional Council (KARC), said that a team should be set up to
visit the existing autonomous councils in other states.
Former Union minister Bhakta
Charan Das made an elaborate presentation of the socio-economic issues
concerning the people of the region. The region has been neglected for the last
seven decades, Das said. The need of the hour is an autonomous regional council
for the KKBK region and time has come to launch a peaceful movement to get it,
Das said, adding that he would actively participate and fight for KKBK
Autonomous Regional Council.
The regional imbalance between
the KKBK region and rest of the state is clearly visible in every sphere, former
MP from Phulabani, Nakul Naik, said.
A number of former legislators
also spoke in support of creation of an autonomous regional council for KKBK
region.
