BHUBANESWAR . A historic rally of slum dwellers has been organized at state capital on Tuseday by United Forum of Slum Dwellers (Basti Basinda nka Milita Mancha, Odisha) where around 20,000 slum dwellers participated with their respective units and leaders. Among the participants more than 50% are women and their children who are suffering a lot of troubles due slum eviction without any prior declaration and rehabilitation before the eviction. Under the leadership of joint forum like Pramila Behera, General Secretary of Basti Surakshya Manch, Sk. Abdulla, leader of slum dwellers and street venders of Cuttack, Brundaban Das Azad of 'Jhopad Pati Mahasangha', Cuttack, Ramachandra Sahu, President of Basti Surakshya Manch, Mamata Pradhan, Slum dwellers leaders of Puri, human right activist and advisor of forum Advovate Biswapriya Kanungo as well as Sivaram with many leaders lead the mammoth rally towards State Secretariat from Bhubaneswar Railway Station.
In the protest meeting presided by Pramila Behera, different leaders like Sibaram, Sk. Abdulla, Brundaban Das Azad, Ashok Mallik(State President, National Dalit Forum), Right Activist Narendra Mohanty(Banabasi Surakshya Parisad), Praddep Pradhan, State Convener, Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan and leader of anti-land scam movement, Arun Jena(Bhitamati Surakshya Manch) and other prominent leaders were addressed the gatherings in front of State Assembly. They all also spoke against the anti-people policies of Odisha Government and demanded to stop introducing of proposed ' Anti-Encroachment Bill, Rehabilitation under 'Rajiv Abas Scheme" before any eviction of slumdwellers, total ban on slum eviction, proper implementation of the previous orders passed by High Court as well as Supreme Court on slum dwellers.
By: Narendra Mohanty

Hastakshep