Dr V.N.V.K. Sastry, Advocate for Adivasi Welfare, Dies at 80

ADILABAD: Dr V.N.V.K. Sastry, 80, who worked for the development and welfare of the Adivasis as a government officer and researcher, passed away due to ill health in Hyderabad on Monday. Dr Sastry is survived by his wife Gayatri Devi and their sons Arun and Kasyap Ram.

Social activists and Adivasis of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh recalled the services of Dr Sastry, a native of Kovvur of East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

Dr Sastry was assistant project officer of the Utnoor Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) in the 1980s. He retired in 2005 as director, Tribal Cultural Research and Training Institute, of the tribal welfare department, after 34 years of service.Dr Sastry wrote 10 books and more than 100 research papers on the issues related to Adivasi’s rights and their welfare, and development. His PhD thesis, ‘Between the Two Gond Rebellions’ was set against the backdrop of Adivasis fighting for their rights.