Tribals Rally for Land Rights, Seek Girijana Darbar
The rally covered two panchayats and six villages, demanding a special girijana darbar in Narsipatnam to address tribal land issues and the inclusion of non-scheduled tribal villages in the 5th Schedule.
Visakhapatnam: Marking Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s 134th birth anniversary, the Girijana Sangham 5th Schedule Sadhana committee took out a 6-km bike rally from Z. Benna Varam to Ajayapuram via Kalyan Lava.
The rally covered two panchayats and six villages, demanding a special girijana darbar in Narsipatnam to address tribal land issues and the inclusion of non-scheduled tribal villages in the 5th Schedule.
The committee alleged that real estate interests, aided by officials, were encroaching on tribal lands in non-scheduled areas. They highlighted cases, including the displacement of PVTG Kondaparu Babu in Guddipa and the eviction of a tribal farmer, Peddiraju, in Kotnabelli.
Despite complaints and confirmed ownership, no action was taken, they said, citing RTI replies.
They urged the Anakapalle district collector, Vijaya Krishnan, to intervene and warned of large-scale protests if no girijana darbar is held.
District honorary president K. Govinda Rao and PVTG Girijana Sangham leaders Gemila Vasu and G. Raju took part in the rally.
