Date:03/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/03/stories/2008030370150800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Call for sustained development in Agency

Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM: The two-day long National Seminar on Bio-Cultural Perspectives on Utilization of Resources in Tribal Areas organized by the Department of Anthropology, Andhra University, at the School of Distance Education concluded on Sunday.

The seminar that had six technical sessions saw active participation of eminent anthropologists from all across India.

The speakers deliberated that the impact of mining, industry, hydroelectricity projects, construction of dams etc., on ecology and environment made issues like rehabilitation, health and nutrition of tribals to be dealt on urgent basis.

They sought for evolving a strategy for agency’s sustained development.

Escalating activism, land alienation, debt among tribals called for the burning need for empowering them in becoming collaborators of developmental planning and implementation of different programmes for elevating their standard of living.

The panel of eminent anthropologists came up with recommendations at the end of the seminar.

The panel felt safeguarding the claim of tribals over their resources, pro-active role of the governors in protecting the scheduled areas and capacitating tribals to withstand the affects of globalization and social accountability over the expenditure incurred on the tribal development was the need of the hour.

Creation of different livelihoods among tribes, coordination between university and non-governmental organizations and active involvement of anthropologists for devising and executing developmental programmes for the tribals formed part of their suggestions.

Prof. K.C. Malhotra was felicitated on the occasion Registrar of A.U. P. Vijay Prakash gave away certificates to the participants.