Is the comparatively higher turnout of tribal voters of former united Adilabad district a result of their general backwardness? Anyone who is familiar with the living conditions of the aboriginal people in these parts will swear by this.
It does not seem to be a mere coincidence that the percentage of voting among Adivasis especially, is directly proportional to their backwardness. “We vote in the hope that some political leader or officer will visit our village some day and take care of our problems,” was the reply of Madavi Motilram, the patel or headman of the distantly located Girjai village in the Scheduled Tribe reserved Boath Assembly segment of Adilabad (ST) Lok Sabha constituency when asked about their enthusiasm to exercise their franchise. In the parliamentary election, the ethnic voters have recorded better voting percentage than their non-tribal counterparts. For example, against the general average of 72% polling in the Lok Sabha constituency and 70.27% in Adilabad Assembly segment, nearly 88% of polling took place in Paraswada polling station in the same segment where the voters are Adivasis.
There were many polling stations in the Agency areas like Dhanora and Nishani in Kerameri mandal of Asifabad (ST) Assembly segment which recorded around 90% of polling during the December 7, 2018 Assembly election. Indeed the Assembly segment itself had recorded over 85% of polling in that election. There are over 400 tribal villages, a good number of these are located in the hilly forest areas in the Agency mandals, which the elected representatives do not fancy visiting. “You can see these villages and compare their development with other habitations outside the Scheduled area to know the quality of development,” suggested Pendur Ashok of Ichoda mandal headquarter.
“We have been sanctioned 50 2BHK houses by the then IT Minister and present working president of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti in 2014. Order were issued in this regard but there is no sign of work getting started even after years,” pointed out Pendur Mohan Rao, the patel of the historic Jodeghat village in Kerameri mandal.
Many Adivasi villages lack good connectivity owing to bad condition of roads, go through drinking water shortage every summer (notwithstanding the claim of supply of purified water through the Mission Bhagiratha). They are subjected to corruption at every stage whenever they are in need of help or any work from government offices.