Tribals seek ITDA at Devarakonda

Nalgonda: The tribals of Devarakonda region of the district have appealed to the State government to establish a separate Integrated Tribal Development Authority (ITDA) and regard the pockets where the tribal population was more as Agency areas, to render them justice.

The tribal population in the district is around 2 lakh, which makes up to the 12 per cent of the district’s population. The tribal population in Suryapet is 1.48 lakh while Yadadri has 44,000.

In the backward Chandampeta mandal, tribals, who constitute Lambadas, Yerukala and Chenchu communities, inhabit more than 80 habitats. Their total population is 40,000. In Dindi mandal, Chenchus inhabit many villages. In Nagarjunasagar Assembly constituency, there are 60 tribal habitats, while in Miryalaguda constituency there are 42 and in Munugodu, 25. Most of the tribals in these areas are languishing in poverty and living in deplorable conditions. The fruits of development are yet to reach them.

Majority of the tribals in Devarakonda region are Nagarjunasagar project oustees. Though an ITDA came into existence at Srisailam and started implementing developmental schemes for tribals in plain areas, tribal of Nalgonda have kept themselves out of bounds for the schemes unable to travel long distances to reach Srisailam. Similarly, the tribals of Chandampeta and Neredugommu regard the ITDA at Mannanur in Mahabubnagar district as out of bounds for them because of geographical distance.

Though succor was being extended to them through Modified Area Development Approach (MADA) of tribal welfare department, complete aid is still eluding them. The tribals further urged the government to consider tribal-population majority areas as Agency areas to render them complete justice and provide them benefits under various schemes including housing, health and education.