World Adivasi Day: Tribals still feel left out

Bhadrachalam: Even as the Adivasis across the world celebrated the World Adivasi Day, also the International Day of the World's Indigenous People, on Wednesday, the benefits mentioned in the fifth and sixth schedules of the Indian Constitution are yet to reach the tribals.

The articles mentioned about the reservations for them and the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 are still far from implementation by the officials and the elected people’s representatives, it is felt.

Meanwhile, leaders of Adivasi associations felt that their culture was being threatened by the Polavaram project.

They stated that even seven decades after the independence, the implementation of 1/70 Act was not total and alleged that the violation of the Act was done by none other than the State government, which was supposed to uphold the Act’s implementation.

Threat to existence
In the agency areas, water, forest and mineral wealth belongs to the Adivasis, they said. But, the government was inviting corporate firms to exploit the mineral wealth in the agency areas in the name of development. They alleged that the government was hatching a behind-the-screen conspiracy to drive away them from their natural habitat.

Development plans on paper
Sizeable amount of funds is allocated in the State and Central budgets for the development in agency areas. But, in reality, the development programmes are not trickling down to the tribals. Hundreds of crores are allotted for development of roads in these areas. But, mostly of the funds remain unspent.

Even today, there is no proper road facility to many agency villages in Bhadrachalam—Kurnapalli, Puligundala and Kondavayi in Charla mandal, Pydigudem and Gundala in Dummugudem mandal and Allapalli mandal. As a result, the problems being faced by the tribals, including expectant mothers, are many.

Unemployment
In Bhadradri-Kothagudem district, the tribals are in the grip of illiteracy and unemployment. While the drop-out rate is very high in schools, the 29 primary health centers in these areas and the emergency medical services remain inaccessible.

ITDA’s role nominal?
The Bhadrachalam ITDA was formed in 1975. Upon bifurcation of the state, ITDA Project Officer Rajiv Gandhi Hanumanthu was appointed Bhadradri-Kothagudem District Collector leaving the Project Officer post vacant for more than a year. The Adivasi leaders pointed out that it reflects the nonchalant attitude of the government towards them.

Polavaram project’s impact
According to Telangana irrigation experts, the Polavaram project will displace over 400 villages in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Further, another 140 villages will face the threat of inundation because of the project’s backwaters.

The Adivasis perceive threat to their culture, traditions and customs because of the displacement of villages by the project. The Adivasi leaders alleged that the protests and movements organised to protect their cultural identity fell on the deaf ears of the government.

Finds no support
According to Gondwana Sankshema Parishad founder president Sondi Veeraiah, the Adivasis feel that the death of their protagonists like BD Shankar and SR Sankaran (senior IAS officers), human rights leader and advocate Balagopal, human rights leader Burra Ramulu and Prof Janardhan Rao rendered the tribals orphans.
Though there are some officials who have soft corner for the tribals, the Adivasis by and large feel loss of support.

Adivasi Day celebrated
Bhadrachalam: Adivasi Girijana Sangam celebrated the World Adivasi Day on a grand note by taking out a rally here on Wednesday. Local legislator Sunnam Rajaiah, Revenue Divisional Officer Srimanaryana Reddy and Mandal Revenue Officer Ramakrishnan took part in the celebrations. They paid tributes to Alluri Sitarama Raju, Gantam Dora and Mallanna Dora by garlanding their statues at the town centre.