Date:08/11/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/11/08/stories/2003110802790400.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

CPI(M) launches padayatra on Girijan issues

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM NOV. 7. The CPI(M) on Friday launched a 25-day padayatra in the tribal region of the district.

The padayatra, which was flagged off at Paderu by the party's State secretary, B.V. Raghavulu, aims at bringing Girijans' problems to light and seeking comprehensive development of the region.

Led by the party's district secretry, M.V.S. Sarma, the padayatra would cover a distance of 600 km connecting all the 11 agency mandals before drawing to a close at Araku Valley on December 2.

Mr. Raghavulu signalled the start of the padayatra with the demand that the State Government grant the status of an autonomous district council to the tribal mandals to facilitate their overall development. "Nearly Rs. 800 crores is said to have been invested here by the Integrated Tribal Development Agency over the years but it has not fetched any benefits to the tribals who continue to be exploited,'' he said.

Addressing a public meeting at the Ambedkar junction at Paderu, he said that 70 lakh tribal population of the State was in a deplorable condition without proper health and education facilities and employment opportunities.

"Though Paderu region has abundant rainfall, Girijans here face drinking water crisis with no reservoirs to store water. Power generated in the region is used for the urban areas while villages remain in darkness,'' he said.

Mr. Raghavulu faulted the Government for not ensuring remunerative prices for the agriculture produce of the tribals, in particular coffee seed, which had no support price as in the case of the crops in the plains.

Accusing the Government of doing injustice to the tribal regions, he said that there was no serious effort in imparting education to the tribals, with "contract teachers'' posted for schools and hostels amid inhuman conditions.

"We shall present a report to the Government on the problems of the tribals after the padayatra and demand action on it,'' he said.

The State CPI(M) secretariat member, Ch. Narasinga Rao, spoke.