Girijans are not only neglected in welfare and development but also are discriminated against, said CPI(M) and CPI leaders here on Thursday at a State-level Girijan Sadassu on political alternative for comprehensive development of tribal areas.
Addressing the meeting, CPI(M) State secretariat member Mantina Sitaram said the way the rehabilitation of Girijans displaced by the Polavaram project was being addressed was a classic example. Quoting the Chief Minister, he said 57% of the project work was over but rehabilitation issues were never dealt with a similar seriousness. Only 4,000 houses had been constructed and 14 villages rehabilitated spending a mere ₹478 crore against 371 villages and 1.05 lakh families with the R&R cost estimated at ₹33,000 crore.
For decades 2.5 lakh acres of tribal land in Sabari, Sileru and Godavari catchment languished without irrigation facility and could have been cultivated with a mere 35-foot lift.
On the other hand, though the Polavaram project was scheduled for completion in 2019, the Pattiseema lift scheme was taken up to provide water under the right main canal, Mr. Krishna Murthy pointed out.
He alleged that 1,300 villages with 50% Girijan population were not included in Scheduled V deliberately with an eye on the land there. The same neglect was evident be it in value addition for forest produce or appointment of language volunteers for teaching in tribal languages. All the parties were the same when it came to tribal welfare. Even the YSRCP that had won most of the seats in the tribal areas was not taking up their cause, he said. Health and education were major casualties.
CPI State assistant secretary J.V. Satyanaryana Murthy said the SCs and the STs had to struggle for every right and only an agitation could force restoration of provisions of SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Though some Girijans had changed sides, they still lacked representation in the Cabinet. Tribal hamlets needed to be recognised as panchayats.
CPI(M) State secretariat member Ch. Narsinga Rao demanded that GO 97 issued for bauxite mining should be cancelled. Sub-plan funds ₹1.14 crore were not spent affecting Girijans greatly, he alleged. Recalling that the Left parties were instrumental in bringing the MGNREGA Act, he said its implementation was mired in corruption.
Bhadrachalam MLA Sunnam Rajaiah, former MLA Manam Anjaneyulu, CPI(M) State secretariat member M. Krishna Murthy, AIDWA State president Prabhavati, Mahila Samakhya State secretary A. Vimala were among those who spoke. Lok Satta president Bhisetti Babji and Sheetal Madan (AAP) participated.