Balangir: The leaders of Paschim Odisha Adivasi Kalyan Mahasangh (POAKM) raised the issue of fake tribals when they met minister of state of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes Ramesh Chandra Majhi here on Wednesday evening.

A delegation of tribal leaders led by POAKM secretary general Niranjan Bishi and president of Balangir Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangh Braja Kishore Singhbhoi reiterated their demand for identification of fake tribals who are in government jobs by managing fake caste certificates.

The delegation handed over a memorandum containing six demands to the honourable minister. The demands included expulsion from services, arrest and jail for the fake tribals, apart from return of the money taken as salary from the state exchequer and cancellation of their certificates. The tribal outfight also demanded upgrade of the kanyashram at Saintala to a Plus Two science college and construction of hostels for ST students for which Rs 8 crores have been lying unspent.

President of Balangir Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangh Braja Kishore Singhbhoi said that it was deplorable that though Rs 4 crore had already been sanctioned for development of the Saintala Kanyashram to a Plus Two college, no efforts were being made. "Also, Rs 8 crore is meant for construction of 13 hostels for tribals in the district is lying unspent. We have apprised the minister of these issues," Singhbhoi said.

Fire

Properties worth of lakhs of rupees, including cotton and machineries, were gutted following a fire mishap in a cotton processing unit at Ganeswarpur of Remuna on Thursday.