Date:13/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/13/stories/2007031319360400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Girijans seek welfare steps

Special Correspondent

DRAWING ATTENTION: A lambada woman holds a placard during a dharna in Hyderabad on Monday organised by the Andhra Pradesh Girijan Sangham. -Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Girijans from across the State who gathered here on Monday for a dharna, made a plea asking the Government to initiate steps to improve their lot.

Among those who addressed the gathering were R. Jawahar Naik, president and R. Sriram Naik, secretary respectively, of the Andhra Pradesh State Committee of Girijan Sangham. S. Rajaiah, CPI(M) MLA, visited the dharna camp and promised all help and support in their endeavour to get justice.

They sought setting up of nodal agencies to implement tribal sub-plans, accept in toto and implement reports of Girglani Commission on tribal lands, as also the D.V.L.N. Murthy report, new Integrated Tribal Development Agencies and a special health plan.

They wanted enrolment of beneficiaries for and implementation of Forest Rights Bill, inclusion of 753 non-schedule villages in the scheduled areas, remunerative prices for forest produce, interest-free loans to Girijans, education, jobs and house sites.