The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Panel alleges raw deal to tribals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 21, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Panel alleges raw deal to tribals

Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM: As many as two lakh Girijans living in 805 villages spread over nine districts are being denied all the benefits meant for Girijans in education, employment, political and welfare areas for the last 27 years because their villages have not been brought under the V Schedule of the Constitution.

It was because the State Government did not pursue with the Central Government to bring these villages under the V Schedule, said State Convenor of the V Schedule Sadhana Committee P.S. Ajay Kumar and State Secretary of the Human Rights Forum V.S. Krishna at a press conference here on Thursday.

In 1980 the then Congress Government in the State made a survey and identified the 805 villages to be included in the Scheduled area but it did not pursue the matter after sending a representation to the Centre while Rajasthan and Maharashtra got the benefit sanctioned to their non-Scheduled area villages.

The Koneru Ranga Rao Committee also recommended to the Government to take up the issue but the latter failed to respond in the right manner and left it to the Tribal Welfare Commissioner to pursue the matter, Mr. Ajay Kumar said.

The committee is organising an awareness Jatha from Palasa in Srikakulam district on Friday, which will reach Hyderabad on September. 31. A solidarity meeting will be held on October 1.

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