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| Koshal Development Forum |
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The Koshal Development Forum (KDF) is an informal research forum initiated by the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University belonging to the Koshal region of Orissa (Anugul, Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Debagarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangapur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Sonepur, and Sundargarh district) with the support from the students from other parts of India in 2003.Later the KDF got expanded with general people supporting its cause across the country. The basic objective of forming KDF is to create awareness about the problem of underdevelopment and deprivation in the Koshal Region. The region, which is infamous for illiteracy, poverty, starvation, and child-selling, has been the most neglected part of modern India and since Independence it has seen the rarest forms of deprivation. In this context, the struggle of Koshali people for the creation of an independent state is significant for decentralization process in India, as well as for ensuring that development percolates to the neglected region. The Forum, being apolitical, non-violent, and democratic, is meant to promote the general understanding on the problems of development of the Koshal region through discussions, public meetings, seminars and research publications. |