Sambalpur: Samleswari Temple beautification, Discrimination in the compensation package

Sambalpur: The development of Sambalpur’s Maa Samleswari’s temple is to be glorified like any other religious place in the country, the goddess who sees all her children as equal, but the administration has been accused of sowing caste differences among them.

According to the government-sponsored relief package, worshipers get compensation of Rs.20 lakh, transport expenses of Rs.1 lakh, house rent of Rs.10 thousand for 1 year, but local oppressed residents get compensation of Rs.3 lakh, transport expenses of Rs.10 thousand and house rent of Rs.2500 for 6 months only.

• Allegations of inciting racial discrimination against the state government

Along with this, the opponents of Samleshwari temple beautification will protest in front of the Lower PMG on 8th in cooperation with the State Scheduled Castes, Tribes, Backward Classes and Minority Unions against the construction work without proper maintenance.

In the mass meeting organized in the capital Srit Buddha Temple today, it was said that not only the compensation, but also from government’s land paper to the settlement, the worshipers have been called by the government and given house leases. Not even the house near their temple was destroyed. But the houses of oppressed residents 500 meters away have also been vandalized. They are located in 8 km remote areas without any minimum basic facilities.

• Various social organizations with the Displaced people in the capital City

The government has already started the process of eviction of Sambalpur Ghunghuti Pada, an almost 400-year-old basti auto without proper rehabilitation. The ancestors of the local oppressed inhabitants have been living here for hundreds of years. But the government has neglected to give them land lease even though 80 families of Ghunghuti Pada applied for land lease since 2000, but it was not given. It is alleged that the land was leased out to the so-called high-ranking influential people months before the scheme was announced. Against this discriminatory policy of the government, the displaced persons of Samleshwari temple beautification went on hunger strike for 10 days in front of the District Collector’s Office in January. In the discussion in the presence of RDC and District Administrative Officer, the families of eligible beneficiaries who were left out should be considered for resettlement. Instead of a discriminatory package, it was decided that the evictions would cease without proper rehabilitation of the displaced families to bring them to the same level. But in the current situation, they are accused of being forcibly evicted. The press conference was attended by Sangram Mallick, Abhiram Mallick, Karam Suna, Janek Nag, Pinki Bibhar, Uma Sharma.