All political parties meeting on the issues of tribal and non-tribal agitations in Dammapeta and Aswaraopeta mandals

Rc. No. B4/5944/99 Dated: 20-02-1999

MINUTES OF THE ALL POLITICAL PARTIES MEETING HELD ON 12-02-99
AT 10:30 A.M. IN THE CHAMBERS OF EXCISE SUPERINTENDENT: KHAMMAM

Present : Sri Mohd. Ali Rafatn, I.A.S.,
Joint Collector, Khammam.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

•  Sri Gummadi Narasaiah, Ex. MLA[CPI(ML)] Yellandu.
•  Sri Siddi Venkateswarlu, Dist. CPI Secretary.
•  Sri Vempati Suryanarayana, Dist. CPI Executive Member.
•  Sri B.Hamantha Rao, Dist. CPI Council Member.
•  Sri G.Vidya Sagar, Dist. Secretary, BJP Khammam.
•  Sri E.Hari Babu, representative for Dist. Congress Committee President, Khammam.
•  Sri Thammineni Verabhadram, Ex.MP Khammam representative of CPI(M).
•  Sri V.Veeraiah Chowdary, representative of Sri Bhaskar Rao, MP (Congress) Khammam.
•  Sri S.Somla Naik, PCC nominee.
•  Sri K. Koteswarlu.
•  The Asst. Director, S&LR, Khammam.

* * *

A meeting with the above representatives of all Political Parties was convened on 12-2-1999. At the out-set, the Joint Collector emphasised the representatives of all Political parties about the Plan of Action going to be adopted, keeping in view the past experience, and also keeping in view the recent developments that have taken place in the Tribal and Non-tribal agitation in Dammapeta and Aswaraopeta Mandals. The representatives of Political parties were supplied the proposed Plan of Action to sort out the land disputes in Dammapeta and Aswaraopeta Mandals and requested to give suggestions for necessary modifications in the proposed action plan.

The Joint Collector also informed about the formation of District Level Committee, Mandal Level Committee and Village Level Committees, that are going to be formed and functions and powers of such committees. All the representatives were requested to furnish the names of the persons to be in Dist. Level Committee, Mandal Level Committee and Village Level Committees consist of only local level members for mandal and village Level committees respectfully.

The representative of congress Party has suggested that two persons shall be in the Dist. Mandal and Village Committees, one from Tribal and another from non-tribal.

Sri Thammineni Veerabhadram, CPI(M) requested to furnish details of Govt. and assigned made in Aswaraopeta and Dammapeta Mandals during the aggitational Crash assignment programme of Govt. lands so as to make physical verification of the work done by District Administration. The list of assignees in Dammapeta Mandal readily available was given to him. The list of assignees in Aswaraopeta and Dammapeta will be furnished to all the Political Party members within a short time.

It was informed that necessary records (i.e.,) Pahani, Sethwar, Village Map can be verified from Mandal Revenue Office Superintendent. In case, if any person required copy of extract of the above record, they can be furnished certified copies.

It was also informed that Asst. Director, Survey and Land Records, Khammam was preparing the maps of Government lands along with details of encroaches. The details of encroachments on Govt. lands can also be verified from Mandal Revenue Officer's Office and these records will be kept in the minds of public or others.

The next District Level Review meeting is fixed tentatively on 25-2-98 and exact meeting date will be communicated shortly.

Sd/- D. Sashidhar,
Joint Collector, Khammam.

// by order //
Superintendent.

To
All the concerned.
Copy to the Asst. Director, S&LR, Khammam.
Copy to the Revenue Divisional Officer, Paloncha/Khammam/Kothagudem.
Copy to the Sub-Collector, Bhadrachalam.
Copy to the Mandal Revenue Officer, Dammapeta/Aswaraopeta/Mulkalpalli.
Copy to the CC to the Collector/Joint Collector/District Revenue Officer.

Rally by tribals for non-tribals cause?

RALLY BY TRIBALS FOR NON-TRIBAL'S CAUSE?

By our Staff Reporter

BHADRACHALAM, March 2: The 'Atavi prantha girijana sangham' organized a big tribal rally here on Monday evening with a slogan that had little to do with the tribes.

Streams of people who came from the remote areas, waving red flags and banners, took part in the rally that was spearheaded by the CPI(M) leadership. As the usual practice required, the main demand in a tribal rally organized in association with the Marxists should be protection to the tribes becoming victims of the flawed implementation of the scheduled area regulation 1/70.

But the focus of the rally was otherwise. It was more a demonstration of support for the small non-tribal farmers tilling lands which are not legally theirs in the scheduled area villages. The ralllyists wanted exemption for the non-tribal farmers with five (wet) to ten (dry) acres of land from the scheduled area norms.

The demand was indicative of the CPI(M)'s change in the stand and its effort to woo non-tribes. It was keen on dispelling the fears harboured by the non-tribal farmers about the party stand on the regulation 1/70. The CPI(M) is the only party which opposed the demand for amending the regulation which has put a blanket ban on the enjoyment of the tribal land by the non-tribes and paid a price for it.

The CPI(M) national council member and former M.P. Mr. Tammineni Veerabhadram, said that there was a false propaganda about the CPI(M) stand on the regulation. "Certain forces created wrong impression that the party sought to drive the non-tribes away from the scheduled area". But it was not true. The party had been asking the government to spare the small non-tribal farmers in the scheduled areas.

He said that the exemption for small non-tribal farmers was not a new demand. The party had not touched such farmers in the tribal agitation for land. Some people questioned as to why the exemption for the non-tribes with small holdings should not be incorporated in the law? Such an amendment would result in transforming the big holdings of the non-tribal farmers into small holding almost overnight, he said.

The CPI(M) leader reiterated the demand for setting up a tribal council at Bhadrachalam to safeguard the interests of the tribes in the State. He said that the party would organize tribals in all the nine districts covered by the ITDA projects - from Srikakulam to Adilabad - so as to mount pressure on the government for setting up the council. He wanted the collection charges of beedi leaf enhanced at Rs. 1.75 paise per bundle (of 100 leaves).

He said the distribution of land to the tribals of Dammapet needed a further review. Though the government had been claiming at have handed over Rs. 20 crores worth of land to the landless tribes the area, the extent of land really distributed would be around 400 acres. The CPI(M) had made a study of the distribution so as to give a feedback to the administration.

Mr. Kunja Bojjji, Bhadrachalam MLA and State convener of the Atavi prantha gijijana sangham, made a scathing attack on the government agencies involved in marketing minor forest produce. He said the Girijan Cooperatives had become profit oriented and very little of the margins were being passed on to the tribes. He said that the government failed to help the tribes on the land issue.

The Hindu, Wednesday, 03 rd March 1999

-The Hindu, 17-05-05

Tribals take out massive rally in Khammam

Staff Reporter
KHAMMAM: Tribals led by the Grameena Pedala Sangham took out a rally in Dammapet on Monday demanding the distribution of Government lands in the occupation of the non-tribal farmers.

They wanted immediate steps to resolve the tribal and non-tribal confrontation on the land issue in Ranguvarigudem and other neighbouring villages. They insisted on restoring the lands acquired by non-tribals in violation of the scheduled area regulation to the original tribal pattedars. They appealed to the Government for prompt disposal of the land related cases benefiting the tribal communities. Hundred of tribals took part in the rally. Tribals prevented harvest sof mango crop by non-tribal farmers recently. Tension gripped the village following the incident. Police forces were deployed as a precautionary measure. The tribals relented after the intervention of the officials.

Senior officials are expected to visit the village for discussions with the tribal and non-tribals on Tuesday. The rallyists demand safe drinking water to tribal hamlets. They presented a memorandum to the Mandal Revenue Officer.

ammapet had been the centre - stage of the land struggle waged by the tribal led by the Sakti organization for many years.