Stage set for distribution of land to tribals
The Hindu, February 13, 1997.
From Our Staff Reporter
Eluru, Feb. 12: Stage has been set for the distribution of 202 acres of land among landless tribals at Reddyganapavaram village of Buttayagudem mandal on February 17 formally. The land includes 114 acres, at present occupied by non-tribals, 13 acres of vacant land and 76 acres, which is in the possession of tribals but without pattas. The land secured from non-tribals under the Land Transfer Regulation Act was 42 acres.
The District Collector, Mr. D. Ramakrishna, the Joint Collector, Mr. M. Subramanyam, and the superintendent of Police, Mr. M. Punna Rao, who visited Reddyganapavaram on Monday, held a meeting with the tribals and persuaded them to accept the first installment of land. Tribal leaders were asked to prepare a list of landless tribals as picking of beneficiaries by the revenue staff would give scope for suspicion and dissatisfaction.
The officials also visited kangalavarigudem, another tribal village, where tribals stalled the survey and prevented some of the non-tribal farmers from watering the fields, alleging fraud in the survey.
It is said that Mr. Balakrishna, a retired revenue official and activist of Sakthi, a voluntary body, had brainwashed the tribals of the village into believing that the survey was an eye wash and that they were entitled to more land. The Sakthi activist has not been seen for the last five days.
The survey teams identified 123 acres of land in Kangalavarigudem for allotment. Addressing the tribals, the Collector tried to drive home the point that only the Government was capable of providing land to them and that heeding to the advice of behind-the-curtain operators would land them in trouble and rob them of whatever land identified in the survey. The villagers presented a list of survey numbers measuring 50 acres claiming it as theirs.
900 acres identified
The survey resulted in identifying 900 acres for allotment in Jeelugumilli and Buttayagudem mandals. Will the present exercise of land distribution douse flames in the agency is a question difficult to answer. In the words of APCLC General Secretary, Dr. K. Balagopal, the survey does not quench the thirst of tribals for land and more needs to be done to do justice.
The main focus of tribals is on lands cultivated by non-tribals. The general feeling among a section of tribals and the groups leading them is that the administration is concentrating to gather Government wasteland rather than subjecting the ownership of non-tribals to scrutiny.
Mr. Madakam Venkateswara Rao, a tribal leader, complained to the Collector at Reddyganapavaram that about 200 acres had been occupied by non-tribals without valid document. A woman at Kangalavarigudem argued with the officials that a large extent of land in the village was cleared of forest and developed by their forefathers but it was being cultivated by tribals.
The CPI(M), which had taken part in the tripartite discussions, and other groups backing the stir had also come under criticism for their inactive role in the survey. The tribals had got a rare opportunity to review the deals of the entire land in the scheduled acre. In spite of an offer from the administration to engage private lawyers on behalf of tribals at the expense of the Government and thoroughly verify the records, no serious attempt had been made in this regard. The sincerity of the CPI(M) is being questioned now.
Mr. Karatam Rambabu, a staunch supporter of non-tribals, has alleged that the pro-tribal, groups are more interested in making money than doing anything good for the tribals.
A section of the press also drew flak for coverage of the tribal problem. Mr. Madakam Venkateswara Rao told the officials that certain news reports had shown tribals in poor light. In a particular case, tribals were reported to have destroyed 20 acres of sugarcane crop. In fact, the field was intact, he said. |
