Jamshedpur, Sept. 14 :
Jamshedpur, Sept. 14:
The Santhali Bhasha Morcha has called a 'rail-roko' agitation on September 25 to press for the recognition of Santhali as the official language of the new Jharkhand state. The organisation has also threatened a 'social boycott' of tribal MLAs and MPs who do not extend support to their cause.
BJP MP from Mayurbhanj Salkhan Murmu, who spearheaded the Hul-Santhal language agitation a few years ago, held a series of meetings with local tribal intellectuals to chalk out a future course of action.
He is campaigning for the recognition of Ho, Mundari and Santhali as the official languages for the new state and their inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The morcha has earmarked 26 places in Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa for the proposed 'rail-roko'. The blockade will also cover three tribal-dominated areas in Orissa.
According to Birsa Murmu, spokesman and general secretary of the organisation, at least 100 villages adjoining the railway stations are gearing up for the blockade. 'Nearly 10,000 tribal villagers will squat on the tracks during the blockade,' he said.
The organisation has also sought donations from tribal intellectuals for the promotion of the language and is preparing a three-point charter of demands.
It has also shortlisted names of 100 intellectuals for the Maan Mohar Samman (an award for the recognition of literary work in tribal languages).
Many more organisations have launched similar movements in south Bihar for the recognition of local languages. The Ho-Mundari Bhasha Warang will take out a rally in the city on Tuesday to mark the 82nd birth anniversary of Guru Kol Lako Bodra - a social reformer credited with having evolved the script for Ho and Mundari languages.
The rally will focus on literary, social, cultural and religious aspects of the tribal society, said Sarang president Surendra Sundi.
Addressing a press conference, Sundi said: 'The present education system does not promote the identity of the mool nivasis (aborigines) and thereby poses a major cultural threat. A time will come when our children will not
know anything about their heritage.''
Sources in the district headquarters here and at West Singhbhum said additional forces headed by a magistrate will be deployed in sensitive areas during the blockade.
Forester gheraoed
Hundreds of men and women from villages in the Dalma wildlife sanctuary today gheraoed the office of the ranger here in Mango to protest against frequent attacks by elephants.
The protesters were led by activists of the Dalma Mukti Vahini. According to Vahini leader Kapur Bagi, a villager, Yashodha Bhumij, was recently trampled to death by a tusker inside the sanctuary.
'She was not paid any compensation. Cases such as these are on the rise and officials are not taking effective steps to prevent elephants from straying,' he alleged.
Forest officials, however, refuted charges, saying 42 people have been compensated for damage to crops by elephants. Six families have been paid for rebuilding their houses and four compensated for injuries. The vahini also demanded an increase in the compensation package and threatened to intensify its agitation.