World Tribal Day Marked Across AP With Focus on Rights, Welfare
Highlighting tribal rights, culture, education, welfare and development
Visakhapatnam: World Tribal Day was celebrated across tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday, with programmes in Paderu, Nellore, Chittoor, Tirupati and Ongole highlighting tribal rights, culture, education, welfare and development.
In Ongole, social welfare minister Dr Dola Sri Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy said the government was committed to tribal development. He highlighted implementation of the ST Sub-Plan, RoFR rights over 4.55 lakh acres, 11 welfare schemes covering 4,152 PVTG habitations and ₹198 crore spent on additional buildings in 74 tribal schools.
Essential commodities were distributed to 16 persons recently freed from bonded labour, three fire-affected families and 25 families whose houses were damaged by rain at the Ongole programme.
In Nellore, mayor Devarakonda Sujatha said constitutional rights and opportunities provided by Dr B.R. Ambedkar had helped her become the city’s Mayor. She urged tribal parents to educate their children and assured them of support in resolving civic and documentation-related issues.
APRTC Zonal chairman Sannapareddy Suresh Reddy called upon tribal organisations to form a Joint Action Committee (JAC) to take up their common issues with elected representatives and officials. He sought greater attention to the needs of plain-area tribal communities, particularly in education, livelihoods and infrastructure.
In Chittoor, collector Sumit Kumar said around 60,000 tribal people lived in nearly 600 habitations in the district. As many as 2,907 tribal beneficiaries had received `6.52 crore under various government schemes during 2025-26 and the current financial year.
He said six roads in tribal areas would be taken up shortly and targeted for completion within six months. Basic facilities, including toilets and electricity, in tribal welfare hostels would also be improved on priority.
In Tirupati, collector Dr S. Venkateshwar stressed the need to improve confidence among tribal communities and strengthen roads, education, healthcare and basic amenities. Around `24 crore had been spent on repairs in tribal and welfare schools, he said, adding that steps would be taken to modernise the Tribal Bhavan in Tirupati.
In Paderu, in Alluri Sitarama Raju district, the celebrations at the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) conference hall focused on tribal rights, traditions and welfare. Tributes were paid to tribal leaders and martyrs, including Komaram Bheem, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Malludora and Gaam Ganta Dora.
Deputy director of tribal welfare P.B.K. Parimala, ITDA administrative officer Hemalatha, district medical and health officer Dr Pratap and officials of the Information and Special Publicity departments paid tributes by garlanding portraits and lighting lamps. Tribal leaders, officials and villagers participated in the programme.
