MINUTES OF THE MEETING ON CONDUCT OF SURVEY

A meeting to discuss the modalities of the verification process to be carried out in the agency area of West Godavari district was convened on 22 nd October, 1997 at 4.00 p.m in the chambers of the Principal Secretary (SW), Government of A.P., Hyderabad .

The following members attended the meeting

•  Sri S.Ray, I.A.S., Principal Secretary to Government, Social Welfare Department.

•  Sri J.Rambabu, IAS Principal Secretary to Government, Revenue Department.

•  Sri G.Sudhir, IAS, Secretary to Government, Revenue Department.

•  Sri T.S.Appa Rao, IAS, Commissioner of Tribal Welfare.

•  Sri Anil Kumar Singhal, Project Officer, ITDA, K.R.Puram, W.G.Dist.

•  Dr. Sivaramakrishna from SAKTI.

The Principal Secretary (SW) opened the discussions by describing the purpose of the meeting. He invited Mr. Sivaramakrishna to express his opinion on the conduct of verification work. Sri. Sivarama krishna opined that his organisation had partial information which could be supplementary to the official records and the main responsibility of providing information had to be shouldered by the Government. He agreed, in general, with the paper presented by the Project Officer, I.T.D.A.

Then Project Officer, ITDA described the salient features of the paper submitted by him. The Commissioner of Tribal Welfare described to know the reasons for not carrying out this process earlier. The Project Officer explained that it was started in some villages but as soon as tribals realise that not much land is going to come into their hands, they stop the survey saying their representatives were not present. He pointed out that SAKTI, because of its legal and other internal problems, could not really concentrate on the survey work.

The members deliberated at length as to how to handle a situation where no land might actually come to tribals in a particular village. The Principal Secretary, Revenue desired that it should not become a mere justification exercise for the possession of land by non-tribals.

It was decided that SAKTI shall immediately start preparing the tribals for the verification process and mentally tune them to the possibilities of no land actually coming to the tribals.

On the opinion expressed by the Principle Secretary, Revenue, it was also decided that if adequate extent of land was not available to satisfy the tribals, the Project Officer, with cooperation from SAKTI, shall prepare an alternative plan of support including formation of V.S.S. and economic support schemes. It was also decided to use the option of land purchase only as a last resort. On a suggestion by the Commissioner of Tribal Welfare, that sufficient funds might not be available for more than 20-35 villages to cater to needs of all tribals, both the Principle Secretaries expressed confidence that the Government can be convinced to consider release of funds as a special case, if required. Anyway, since land disputes are in about 35 villages, the existing funds may itself suffice.

Finally it was decided that Project Officer shall write, along with Sivaramakrishna, a note incorporating all the issues discussed in the meeting, specifying the role of all officials / non-officials for perusal of the Principal Secretary, Social Welfare.

The Principal Secretary, Social Welfare thanked everybody for attending the meeting.

Sd/- S.Ray,

PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT.

P.Hanumantha Rao,

Deputy Secretary to Govt.,

Social Welfare Department,

A.P. Secretariat, Hyd -22