Statehood activists to be identified till Dec 31

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 12

The state government has set December 31 deadline for identifying persons who participated in the statehood agitation. More than 17 years have passed, but the process of identifying the activists who launched the agitation for the creation of the state in the nineties is far from over. Earlier, the government had announced April 30 as the last date for identifying the statehood activists.

The government provides monthly pension of Rs 3,100 to those designated as statehood activists. Others who were jailed have been given 10 per cent reservation (horizontal) in the state government jobs. But, this matter is still being pursued in the courts.

Persons claiming to be statehood activists have to give a proof to the government before they are deemed as such. The issue of identification, too, has been mired in controversy after fake cases came to light in Pauri.

Persons claiming to be statehood activists have to present material evidence such as police and administration records. In some cases, genuine activists, who failed to furnish material evidence, were left out. On the other hand, several individuals, who actively participated in the agitation, refused to be party to the government’s largesse offering pension and jobs to them.