Telangana's tribal sand societies help Koya tribe girl continue her education

HYDERABAD: Rekha is a girl belonging to the Koya tribe at Markala village in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district. She had to discontinue her studies due to abject poverty two years ago. But, now, she is able to continue her education thanks to the tribal sand societies launched by the mines department in coordination with Integrated Tribal Development Agency.

As Rekha’s mother earned Rs 29,000 dividend a year as member of a tribal sand society, which was, like many others, formed to undertake sand quarrying in Godavari river, her desire to continue education is fulfilled now. Like Rekha’s family, agricultural labourers and other daily wage earners, who were reeling under poverty, are better off economically after becoming members of sand societies in tribal hamlets in Eurnagaram, Bhadrachalam and other Agency areas situated along the Godavari basin in the state.

For instance, in Markala village itself, one member each of all the 268 families enrolled with tribal sand society of that village. Being  members of these societies, women and men take part in sand quarrying works such as excavating sand and carrying it to trucks. Each member earns `600 to `1,000 a day by taking part in sand excavation. Many of them continue to work as farm labourers as well.  

When minister for mines KT Rama Rao was told about the financial benefits tribal people derived by associating with tribal sand societies, he asked officials to constitute more such societies in villages in Agency areas to provide livelihood to STs. “I am happy to know that tribal sand societies are financially empowering STs. The government is ready to extend more help to these societies,” he said at a review meeting on Sunday.

In numbers
67 tribal sand societies constituted so far in Scheduled Areas
10,000
tribal families are earning money by working in sand quarries
Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation (TSMDC) has paid `40.25 crore to the societies so far
86 lakh
cubic metres of sand in Godavari river has been earmarked for these societies