'Sakti' activists' arrest condemned

The Hindu, Tuesday, June, 3, 1997.

Hyderabad , June 2: The BJP has condemned the arrest of Mr. Sivaramakrishna and his wife, representing 'Sakti', the Non Government Organisation working among tribals in the Agency areas of West Godavari district. In a statement, Mr. P. Venugopal Reddy, general secretary of the State BJP, said tit was unfortunate that the government should harass the activists. Instead of solving the land related problems in tribal areas. It was the negligent attitude on the part of the Revenue department that was leading to the trouble.

Govt. urged to settle land
disputes in tribal belt

The Hindu November 16, 1997.

By Our Staff Reporter

Visakhapatnam, Nov. 15: The SC, ST Rights Protection Society, Visakhapatnam , has demanded an inquiry by a sit­ting judge of the High Court into the Manugopula incident in which one tribal wom­an died and several tribals seriously injured when the police opened fire against the tribals agitating for a just cause.

Mr. Bayye Mallayya, president, Coastal Andhra All India SC, ST Rights Protection Society and Mr. N. Nageswara Rao, convenor, north coastal Andhra unit, and others in a representa­tion to the Chief Minister through the Collector, said that tribal lands in Buttayagudem, Polavaram, and Jeelugumelli mandals of West Goda-vari district were occupied by non-tribal landlords illegally. The Girijans who have been agitating for their rights over the lands were fired upon in Manugopula village recently in the presence of the Sub-Collector and Superintendent of Police, they alleged.

Condemning the incident, they urged the Chief Minister for action against the Hukumpet landlord, Mr. Kotha Ramachandra Murthy, in accordance with the 1989 SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. They also demanded an ex-gratia of Rs.3 lakhs to the family of the deceased woman and monetary and medical aid to the injured. They appealed to the Government to resolve land disputes without further delay and restore the scheduled area lands to the tribals.

The representation included several other; pending issues related to SCs and STs in the district. They demanded a CB-CID inquiry into ' the alleged murder of Gudala Apparao, an SC; employee of AIR, and provision of employment in AIR to one of the family members of the, deceased, access to the drinking water well at Apadapalem of Paravada mandal to enable SC's fetch drinking water, issuance of D form pattas a to the land under the cultivation of SC people all over the district, and shifting of the CRPF camp from Peddaboddepalli as they were perpetrating a reign of terror, in the village.

Co-ordination meeting to settle land disputes

Express News Service

Thursday, June 12, 1997.

Polavaram ( West Godavari ), June 11 : A co-ordination meeting will be held with the participation of tribals and non-tribals on June 17 to settle the land disputes at Reddynagampalem village, said ITDA project officer Anil Kumar Singhal. The official visited Reddynagampalem and Koyanagampalem and Repallivada villages on Tuesday.

He said the construction of the half-completed school building at Reddynagampalem will be completed soon. The official said sanction was accorded for a road between Kakala-Dondapudi. The ITDA will assist to clean the village tank of Repallwada, he said.

Latter the official distributed clothes arranged by Girijana Prajala Chaitanyaa Sangham under Helpage India Scheme.

Complete survey of land under 1/70 Act: CM

The Hindu, June 12, 1997.

From Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad, June 11: The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has asked officials of the Tribal Welfare Department and related agencies to complete, in a given timeframe, the survey of lands held by tribals and non-tribals in the scheduled areas under what is popularly called '1/70 Act.'

Under the provisions of 1/70 Act, land in the scheduled areas cannot be alienated to a non-tribal, but this has been over the years followed more in breach than observance. The violations sparked confrontations between tribals and non-tribals, leading to law and order situations in West Godavari, Khammam and other districts.

The new administration is said to be keen on finding a lasting solution to the problem, giving it priority akin to farmers' problems. Sources said the problem defied solution in the absence of a survey. Under the Act the burden of proof of establishing right of ownership lay with the non-tribal.

The Chief Minister convened a meeting at Secretariat on Friday to review the position. It was attended by Jalagam Venkata Rao, MLA, Sattupalli, Chaya Ratan, Principal Secretary, Tribal Welfare, Jannat Hussain, Principal Secretary to Dr. Reddy, Sastry, Director, Tribal Cultural Research and Training Institute, Veerabhadrudu, Joint Director, Tribal Welfare, and others.

Dr. Reddy instructed Ms. Chaya Ratan to visit Dharbnhagudem and Koyyalagud3em villages in Khammam district and sort out the problems between tribals and the non-tribals, according to a press release issued by the Chief Minister's Office. The meeting is understood to have also discussed appointment of teachers in tribal areas. Under the powers of the Governor, an order was issued four years ago, stipulating that all the posts of teachers in scheduled areas should be reserved for tribals belonging to scheduled areas only. It was decided to adhere to the norm in the appointment of teachers.