MLA Laxmi Seeks Aid for Indiramma Houses
Adilabad: During the 7th Tribal Advisory Council meeting held in Hyderabad on Monday, Asifabad MLA Kova Laxmi urged the state government to provide an advance of Rs 1 lakh to Adivasi beneficiaries for the construction of Indiramma houses. She highlighted that a large number of Adivasi beneficiaries are unable to begin construction due to financial constraints.
Kova Laxmi stated that many beneficiaries in her Asifabad Assembly Constituency are facing financial hardship, preventing them from starting their house construction. She appealed to tribal welfare minister Adluri Laxman Kumar, who chairs the council, and rural development minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka to raise the issue in the state Cabinet. Both ministers responded positively to her request, which was also supported by other council members.
Meanwhile, Adilabad MP Godam Nagesh proposed the formation of a Scheduled Tribes (ST) Commission to address the challenges faced by tribal communities in Telangana. He also raised concern over the recent Supreme Court verdict striking down GO No. 3, which provided 100 per cent reservation for local tribes in government jobs within agency areas. He stressed the need for alternative measures to safeguard tribal rights.
The council members also discussed the creation of a full-fledged Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) at Mannanur in Nagarkurnool district and the need to sanction regular posts there.
A proposal was made to conduct a special meeting to deliberate on the provision of community forest rights to tribals under the Recognition of Forest Rights (RoFR) Act and the distribution of pattas for podu lands across the state.
Kotnak Tirupathi, chairman of the Telangana State Girijan Cooperative Finance Development Corporation, said efforts would be made to strengthen the Girijan Cooperative Corporation by appointing a managing director and allocating special grants.
Several key resolutions were passed, including Revisions to the sand mining policy to benefit local tribal communities in agency areas, recruitment of tribal welfare officers in 18 districts, establishment of ITDAs in plain areas, upgradation of ashram schools to junior colleges and recognition of the Naikpod community as a separate tribe.
The council also discussed sanctioning 1,085 teacher posts in Tribal Ashram schools, establishment of a special IAS study circle for Adivasi PVTGs in Hyderabad, increasing the number of scholarships under the Ambedkar Overseas Vidya Nidhi scheme from 100 to 500 students
Additionally, resolutions were passed for the construction of 120 Rythu Vedika (Rai) centres and associated buildings in the erstwhile Adilabad district, and for the sanction of additional Indiramma houses for tribals in the state.
The meeting was attended by Khanapur MLA Vedma Bojju, TRICOR chairman Bellaiah Naik, MPs Balaram Naik and Godam Nagesh, MLAs Jadi Adinarayana, Koram Kanakaiah, Murali Naik, Venkateshwar Rao, Deputy Speaker Ramchandra Naik, Balu Naik, Thellam Venkatrao, Anil Jadhav, Banoth Ramdas Naik, MLC Shankar Naik, and others.
