K. Chandrasekhar Rao hints at Cabinet expansion, assures berth to Girijan for tribal portfolio
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday hinted of an impending Cabinet expansion. “A Girijan will get the tribal welfare portfolio whenever a Cabinet expansion takes place,” Mr Rao said while announcing a series of sops for Girijans while laying the foundation stones Banjara Bhavan, Komaram Bheem Adivasi Bhavan and Babu Jagjivan Ram Bhavan at Road No. 10, Banjara Hills.
The bhavans will be constructed on an acre each at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore. The ceremony was attended by tribals from the city and other nine districts.
Mr Rao had kept the Cabinet expansion on hold due to the Budget Session that ended recently. The CM’s statement has now revived the hopes of a Cabinet berth among TRS legislators including Girijan MLAs and MLCs.
Though there are no Banjaras in Banjara Hills, which now houses film personalities, industrialists, businessmen, IAS, IPS and others, the CM, as promised during electioneering, allotted one acre each to Banjaras, Adivasis and Scheduled Castes for construction of an individual bhavan for the community.
“I stood by my promise. I will also ensure 12 per cent reservation for tribals and ensure that funds from the tribal sub-plan are not diverted. By the next fiscal, all 260 tribal habitations across the state will be connected with roads under a special package,” he said.
Expressing anguish over the deaths of tribals due to viral fever, he said that the government would soon form a 500-member task force of doctors and paramedical staff who would visit the tribal hamlets, provide medicare and also educate them on preventive measures besides taking up necessary works.
“We will educate tribals on eating nutritious food, having a balanced diet, avoiding country liquor, preventing contagious diseases, shunning superstitions, blind beliefs and child marriages and ensure they lead healthy lives,” he said.
All women tribals will get three acres of land, on par with SCs, along with facilities like bore wells, agricultural pump sets and other sops given to SC farmers. Mr Rao said that the government would constitute a high-level committee with a High Court sitting judge to work out the modalities for implementation of 12 per cent reservations for STs. He also said the government would provide Rs 10 lakh to every district annually for celebrations of Sevalal Maharaj Jayanti.
