he State Government is indifferent towards the interest of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The recent State Cabinet decision to amend the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Properties (By Scheduled Tribes) Regulation Act (OSATIP) is an example of this, said the Congress on Friday.
The decision of transferring of ST lands to non-tribals would make the tribals financially weak and bring misery for them. Over 22.5% of the State’s total population is tribals. The State Government’s same proposal had been rejected by the President of India in 2010, the Congress pointed out.
The OSATIP amendment decision should be immediately withdrawn, said a delegation of the party’s SC and ST forum which met the Governor and submitted a memorandum.