The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Battalion for tribals under study: Jana

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 22, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Battalion for tribals under study: Jana

Staff Reporter

Over 1,000 jobs to be created; move to field youth against extremists denied

A promising encounter: Young tribals from Warangal district calling on the Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, in Hyderabad on Saturday.

HYDERABAD: The State Government plans to create 1,000 jobs for tribals by raising a separate battalion for them, the Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, said here on Saturday.

The proposed battalion would function on the lines of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA).

The Minister held out this assurance to a group of tribals from Warangal district who called on him at the Secretariat with a request to provide them jobs. "You apply and we will create jobs for you," was the message he sought to convey to them.

`Represent to YSR'

Mr. Reddy also promised the youths, who were led by D. Nageshwar Rao, president, Adivasi Sankshema Parishad, that the Government was willing to offer them employment in other departments.

For this they have to represent to the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Although the Minister sought to dispel an impression that the plan to raise a tribal battalion was aimed at pitting youth against extremists and weaning them away from their hold, interestingly the youths were brought to the Secretariat in a police vehicle and dropped back after meeting Mr. Reddy.

However, the youngsters forgot to hand over a memorandum, which they had brought along, to the Minister.

According to an official release, the Minister said the Government would give priority to those tribals in the battalion who have not got opportunity earlier, keeping in view the fact that only one or two sects from the schedule areas were getting jobs.

Mr. Reddy stated that a majority of new recruits for the 3,000 posts of homeguards would be tribals.

He announced that cases registered againt 400 persons for aiding naxalites would be withdrawn.

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