Jhodia Community’s Demand for Scheduled Tribe Status Gains Momentum
Rayagada, India – The long-standing issue of recognizing the Jhodia community as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) has resurfaced, drawing significant attention in Odisha’s Rayagada district. In a renewed effort to secure official recognition, a delegation from the Jhodia community met with President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on Thursday to present their case.
The delegation, comprising Nilakantha Jhodia, Tankadhar Jhodia, Aniruddha Jhodia, and Sandhu Majhi, expressed hope that President Murmu, who herself belongs to a Scheduled Tribe and has a deep understanding of tribal issues, would take concrete steps to address their concerns. The community has been fighting for Scheduled Tribe recognition for over 28 years, highlighting the historical and administrative inconsistencies that led to their exclusion.
A Prolonged Struggle for Recognition
The Jhodia community was previously recognized as a Scheduled Tribe until 1997 when a government-level error resulted in their exclusion. Since then, they have been deprived of the associated rights and benefits. This has had a direct impact on their access to education, employment opportunities, and welfare schemes meant for Scheduled Tribes.
Over the years, representatives of the Jhodia community have made multiple appeals to both state and central governments. They have met with governors, ministers, and Members of Parliament to push their case forward. In 2009, the interim government had proposed granting them ST status, but the Indian Registrar General and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs did not approve the request, further complicating their struggle.
Despite repeated assurances from political leaders, including former Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda, no concrete action has been taken. Notably, political figures such as Sonia Gandhi and Union Minister Srikanth Jena have also advocated for their cause. MP Saptagiri has raised the issue in Parliament on multiple occasions, yet successive governments have failed to fulfill the community’s demands.
Political and Social Implications
The lack of ST recognition has had far-reaching consequences. The Jhodia community, with a population exceeding 90,000 in Kashipur, Kalyansinghpur, Dashmantpur, Lakshmipur, and Thuamularampur, has actively protested against their exclusion. In 2012, they boycotted the three-tier Panchayat elections, leading to the cancellation of elections in Kashipur block.
The delay in recognizing the Jhodia community as a Scheduled Tribe has largely been attributed to bureaucratic inefficiencies and administrative hurdles. Many former Tahsildars’ flawed decisions have contributed to the prolonged deprivation of their rights.
Government’s Response and the Road Ahead
With the matter once again under review by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, officials have assured that the proposal will be reconsidered. The Ministry has stated that they will request the Registrar General to forward the proposal for further evaluation. Additionally, a delegation is expected to meet with Union Minister Jual Oram to discuss the next steps.
Despite previous assurances from Union Ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan in 2017, no decisive action has been taken. The community remains hopeful that the renewed push for recognition, backed by political support and grassroots mobilization, will finally lead to a favorable decision.
As the Jhodia community continues its long and arduous struggle for justice, all eyes remain on the central government’s response. Will this renewed appeal to President Murmu bring long-awaited relief, or will the community’s demands once again be lost in bureaucratic delays? Only time will tell.
Chandra Bhanu Singh
(Bureau chief Southern Odisha)
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Jhodia Community’s Demand for Scheduled Tribe Status Gains Momentum
Rayagada, India – The long-standing issue of recognizing the Jhodia community as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) has resurfaced, drawing significant attention in Odisha’s Rayagada district. In a renewed effort to secure official recognition, a delegation from the Jhodia community met with President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on Thursday to present their case.
The delegation, comprising Nilakantha Jhodia, Tankadhar Jhodia, Aniruddha Jhodia, and Sandhu Majhi, expressed hope that President Murmu, who herself belongs to a Scheduled Tribe and has a deep understanding of tribal issues, would take concrete steps to address their concerns. The community has been fighting for Scheduled Tribe recognition for over 28 years, highlighting the historical and administrative inconsistencies that led to their exclusion.
A Prolonged Struggle for Recognition
The Jhodia community was previously recognized as a Scheduled Tribe until 1997 when a government-level error resulted in their exclusion. Since then, they have been deprived of the associated rights and benefits. This has had a direct impact on their access to education, employment opportunities, and welfare schemes meant for Scheduled Tribes.
Over the years, representatives of the Jhodia community have made multiple appeals to both state and central governments. They have met with governors, ministers, and Members of Parliament to push their case forward. In 2009, the interim government had proposed granting them ST status, but the Indian Registrar General and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs did not approve the request, further complicating their struggle.
Despite repeated assurances from political leaders, including former Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda, no concrete action has been taken. Notably, political figures such as Sonia Gandhi and Union Minister Srikanth Jena have also advocated for their cause. MP Saptagiri has raised the issue in Parliament on multiple occasions, yet successive governments have failed to fulfill the community’s demands.
Political and Social Implications
The lack of ST recognition has had far-reaching consequences. The Jhodia community, with a population exceeding 90,000 in Kashipur, Kalyansinghpur, Dashmantpur, Lakshmipur, and Thuamularampur, has actively protested against their exclusion. In 2012, they boycotted the three-tier Panchayat elections, leading to the cancellation of elections in Kashipur block.
The delay in recognizing the Jhodia community as a Scheduled Tribe has largely been attributed to bureaucratic inefficiencies and administrative hurdles. Many former Tahsildars’ flawed decisions have contributed to the prolonged deprivation of their rights.
Government’s Response and the Road Ahead
With the matter once again under review by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, officials have assured that the proposal will be reconsidered. The Ministry has stated that they will request the Registrar General to forward the proposal for further evaluation. Additionally, a delegation is expected to meet with Union Minister Jual Oram to discuss the next steps.
Despite previous assurances from Union Ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan in 2017, no decisive action has been taken. The community remains hopeful that the renewed push for recognition, backed by political support and grassroots mobilization, will finally lead to a favorable decision.
As the Jhodia community continues its long and arduous struggle for justice, all eyes remain on the central government’s response. Will this renewed appeal to President Murmu bring long-awaited relief, or will the community’s demands once again be lost in bureaucratic delays? Only time will tell.
Chandra Bhanu Singh
(Bureau chief Southern Odisha)
