Travails of tribals in Telugu States 

Both the Telugu States do not seem to be concerned about the plight of indigenous population of the area that numbers 5.5 lakh

Bhadrachalam: While both the Telugu speaking States are making tall claims about the measures being taken to empower and improve the lives of the aboriginal tribes, the sons of the soil live in abject misery and are totally disregarded by the powers that be. The classic example is the wretched state of affairs in the tribal hamlets of Khammam district.

Though the tribals in the district hoped for better life conditions after bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh, things seem to have gone from bad to worse. They are facing an uncertain future now as both the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments seem to be uninterested in their welfare.

The district had a total tribal population of 5.5 lakh in the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh. The Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) of Bhadrachalam was the largest in the undivided Andhra Pradesh with its jurisdiction extended to 29 mandals. After the formation of Telangana State, seven mandals of Khammam district were merged with residual Andhra Pradesh.

According to officials, no data is available about the tribal population in Khammam and their living standards post bifurcation, affecting the implementation of welfare schemes. Bhadrachalam ITDA, without a full-time project officer post bifurcation, has failed to focus on welfare of tribals due to fund crunch in the new state.

The living condition of tribals in Andhra Pradesh is no different. The mandals which were merged with AP come under the purview of ITDA of Rampachodavaram now. The medical and health services in tribal hamlets have been badly affected post bifurcation. The Primary Health Centres in border areas of Telangana and AP are not strengthened.

Tribal people are forced to come all the way to Bhadrachalam Area Hospital for medical aid. The tribal mandals in AP are also lagging behind on all fronts. No steps have been initiated to develop basic infrastructure in the tribal hamlets as they face submersion threat from the multi-purpose Polavaram project.

The grouse of tribals living in the border areas is that they are the most ignored lot as neither Telangana nor AP initiated any concrete measures for their uplift. They are of the view that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People with the theme Right to Education is unlikely to improve their plight as both the State governments are not really committed to their welfare.

Speaking to The Hans India, Girijana Sankshema Parishad State convener Sonde Veeraiah demanded that the Telangana and AP governments take concrete measures for the improvement of living standards of tribals in border areas. “The International Adivasi Day should be declared as Tribal Rights Day to give a real meaning to it.

The Polavaram irrigation project has proved to be a bane to tribals of the region as their rich culture and traditions face an extinction threat. The governments of the two Telugu States should rededicate themselves to the cause of tribals and implement action plans to better safeguard their interests,” he said.

By PV Satyanarayana