'80 pc indigenous people landless'
RU Correspondent
A study of Adivashi Unnayan Sangstha (ASU) revealed that presently 80 per cent indigenous people of the country are landless while the percentage was about 15 to 20 in 1947. Adivashi communities are deprived of basic rights and subjected to exploitation by the mainstream influential people, the report added. The report was launched at a daylong dialogue on the 'Land Related Problems of Adivashi Community in the North' held at Rajshahi Public Administration Training Centre yesterday. In 100 Adivashi villages of Rajshahi, 921 families have been living in the government owned Khas land for ages but they are yet to get ownership of the land, the report said It is alleged that as they do not have valid land ownership documents, the influential tenants frequently evict them from the land. Adivashi leaders urged the government to distribute Khas land among the Adivashi families. Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam attended the programme as chief guest. The organisation distributed stipend among 20 Adivashi meritorious students, who are studying in the universities, colleges and schools of Rajshahi.
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