The Chhattisgarh government on Wednesday postponed a block-level Ramayana recitation competition in Sukma district after tribal outfit, Sarva Adivasi Samaj wrote to the Governor protesting against it.
According to The Indian Express report, Sarva Adivasi Samaj asked the Governor to intervene and ban the programme.
In 2021, the state government started a Ramayana Mandli Protsahan Yojana, under which Ramayana recital competitions at panchayat, block, district and state levels were to be held.
Samaj objected to the event citing infringement on fundamental rights and tribal customs in an area that falls under the fifth schedule under section 244 (1) of the Constitution, Indian Express reported.
Following their appeal to the Governor, the Janpad CEO released an order to all the panchayat secretaries to notify the competing teams that, due to protest in the Chhindgarh block, the competition had been postponed.
“We have our own separate customs and rituals, which are not linked to the Hindu deities. Before the organisation of such events, at least the Gram Sabha or the Samaj’s consent needs to be taken,” a senior representative of the Chhindgarh block Sarva Adiwasi Samaj told Indian Express.
