The All India Janadhipathya Mahila Association district committee on Tuesday took out a march and staged a dharna in front of the collectorate here demanding a special package to ensure security of tribal women in their settlements.
After inaugurating the march, State secretary K.K. Shylaja said most of the tribal settlements in Wayanad were devoid of basic amenities and many tribesmen were addicted to liquor. As many as four minor girls in two tribal settlements were sexually exploited by anti-social elements recently, Ms. Shylaja said.
Hence, the government should execute a special package to ensure the security of tribal women. The involvement of outsiders in the tribal settlements should be restricted and the outsiders who camped in the settlements should be expelled, she said.
The government should constitute a special squad of police and tribal welfare department officials to monitor the movement of outsiders in the tribal settlements, she said.
Job opportunities for tribal women should be ensured under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to empower the tribal women folk, Ms. Shylaja said.
The protesters also demanded higher education for all tribal children, anganwadis in all tribal hamlets, 17 per cent job reservation for tribal youths, and land and house for all landless families of tribespeople.
