Tension prevails as tribals stage dharna

Parvathipuram (Vizianagaram): Tension prevailed at ITDA office in Parvathipuram when hundreds of tribals staged a dhrarna demanding that the Central and State governments protect their rights and interests. 

Tribals alleged that thousands of tribals were displaced for Polavaram project but they were not given proper compensation and other support. No cottage and small-scale firms were launched in the agency area to provide employment to the tribal youth. 

“The government can establish some firms here based on non- timber forest produce like tamarind, cashew, beedi leaves, some medicinal herbs, but it is not showing interest towards it. Even the Tribal University is not yet started. All the schemes, projects remain on paper only.

The aim of the government is to loot the minerals like aluminum, manganese, iron ore and to hand it over to the same to corporate. The posts in tribal schools, colleges are lying vacant for the past few years and the government should conduct special DSC to fill the vacancies. Boyas should not be include into ST category”, they demanded. 
P

olice obstructed the tribals  from entering the ITDA office and it led to tension. CPM district secretary M Krishnamurthy  and others participated in the protest.