Maoists Call Bandh For Their 12-Point Charter Of Demands In Odisha’s 7 Districts On May 15

Rayagada: The Maoists have called for bandh in support of their 12-point charter of demands in Odisha’s 7 districts on May 15.

In an audio release on Friday, the banned outfit has announced that it would enforce bandh in Rayagada, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Boudh, Gajapati and Nayagarh districts to press its demands. However, essential services including hospital, ambulances, medical stores and examination centres would be exempted from the bandh, it added.

Their demanded included allotment of houses to deserving beneficiaries under PM Awas Yojana or Biju Awas Yojana in 6 months, free supply of oil, dal, salt along with PDS rice, construction of roads, drinking water supply and power connection to all villages and construction of hospitals in every panchayat.

Stating that education has been most neglected in the backward areas of these districts, the Maoists demanded establishment of Adarsh Schools in every panchayat, reopening of the schools closed for lack of sufficient number of students, appointment of teachers in vacant posts and monthly scholarship of Rs 3,000 to tribal students.

Highlighting the unemployment problems in the area, the Maoists demanded payment of monthly unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000, Besides, increasing the old age and widow pension to Rs 3,000 was also demanded by them.