Date:17/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/17/stories/2006121703970600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

More facilities for Chenchu tribals in A.P.

Special Correspondent

SRISAILAM: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy laid the foundation for Rs. 3-crore School of Excellence for tribal girls and boys, launched a slew of facilities and announced benefits for the amelioration of the Chenchu tribals on Saturday.

The school is intended to provide convent-type education to tribal children up to pre-university level leading to their admission to Indian Institute of Technologies.

Dr. Reddy also inaugurated the Chenchu Lakshmi Maha Mahila Samakhya, a federation of Chenchu Women Groups in four districts, and promised a corpus fund of Rs. 1 crore. The amount for Chenchu housing programme would be enhanced. He told Chenchu women that all shelterless would get houses under the Indiramma programme. Most of the women pleaded for cultivable land when asked to react.

Later, he laid the foundation for Chenchu cultural complex and a TB sanatorium, launched mobile health units, a blood bank and opened a degree college building. He opened the ornamental arch at Vasavi choultry and Oldage home at Reddy choultry.

Dr. Reddy said three schools and colleges of excellence were set up in three regions of the State.

"The students studying here will be made second to none," he told a large gathering children.

He released a book "Recent Trends in Historical Studies" (first copy to Prof. R. Soma Reddy) edited by P. Channa Reddy, Dean, School of History, Culture and Archaeology, Pottti Sriramulu Telugu University.