Nagpur: Members of Adivasi community on Wednesday staged dharna agitation at Ravibhavan and protested indecision and inaction on the part of State Government regarding sexual exploitation of girl students in Adivasi Ashram Shalas.
Hundreds of women, girls and other members of Adivasi community under the banner of Gondwana Youth Force raised slogans against government. Later, a delegation met the State Tribal Development Minister Vishnu Savara and submitted a memorandum of demands to him. The minister assured the delegation to look into the main demands and take action within three days.
The Convener of the organization Santosh Dhurve said that the sexual exploitation of students in Adivasi Ashram Shalas in Deoli, Amgaon Pada and Butibori is result of government’s inaction and negligence. After the Butibori incident, we had locked the Tribal Development Department for nine hours. But still the State Government has not woken up. Hence we were forced to stage dharna agitation at Ravibhavan today and protest government inaction.The minister has assured to look into the matter and take action within three days, Dhurve said.
The main demands of tribals include installation of CCTV cameras in Adivasi Ashram Shalas to prevent sexual exploitation of students. These CCTV cameras should be connected to Internet and monitoring through ATCs of Nagpur and Nashik. Trials of sexual exploitation cases should be held in Fast Track Courts and other demands.
