Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath's Diwali gift for Vantangiyas; 5 villages declared revenue villages

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath celebrated Diwali with the forest dwelling 'Vantangiya' community here today and also declared five of their settlements as revenue villages.

The chief minister distributed sweets, fruits and textbooks to the children and wheelchairs to the differently- abled Vantangiyas.

Adityanath directed officials to present proposals before the state government for making primary schools, aaganwaadi centres, sports fields, drinking water arrangements, cremation spots and grazing land in the five villages.

The five villages which were declared as revenue villages are: Tikonia number-3, Ramgarh alias Rajhi, Chilbila, Sarkar and Aam Bagh Ramgarh.

A revenue village is a small administrative region - a village with defined borders. One revenue village may contain many hamlets, officials said.

The Vantangiya community comprises people who were brought from Mayanmar to plant trees for afforestation during the colonial rule.

The community faces problems related to the use of natural forest produce like fruits, honey, wax, wood and leaves to meet their daily needs as the forests inhabited by them are not considered as revenue villages.

Conversion of tribal-dominated forest villages to revenue villages under the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act will enable the administration to adopt development measures such as setting up of schools, dispensaries, and other facilities in these villages.