PNS | Vijayawada
Rajya Sabha member V Vijayasai Reddy has reiterated the Andhra Pradesh government’s commitment to the uplift of tribal communities in the State.
He told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that the Jagan Mohan Reddy government had undertaken numerous welfare and development programmes aimed at empowering tribals. During the debate on the Scheduled Tribes Order Fifth Constitution Amendment Bill, Vijayasai Reddy assured the YSR Congress Party’s unwavering support for measures that benefit not only the Tribals in the state but also those across the country.
Addressing previous allegations raised by a TDP member in the House, Vijayasai Reddy elaborated on the various steps taken by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy since assuming power to uplift the tribals in Andhra Pradesh. Notably, a key initiative has been the establishment of a tribal university, which was granted to Andhra Pradesh in a tribal residential area. The government has allocated hundreds of acres of land for this purpose, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been persuaded to support this endeavor.
Regarding infrastructure development, Vijayasai Reddy informed that the construction of the Tribal university buildings and campus has already commenced. Additionally, a medical college with a super specialty hospital is being built in Paderu, an agency area where Tribals have historically lacked access to proper medical and health facilities.
Vijayasai Reddy also highlighted the government’s efforts to recognize the rights of Tribal forest farmers by distributing land titles under the Recognition of Forest Rights Act. Over 55,000 Tribals have been provided with 1.30 lakh acres of land. The previous administration, under the Telugu Desam Party, had neglected Tribal welfare, but the current CM, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, reinstated the distribution of land titles to Tribals involved in cultivation.
Furthermore, in March of this year, the Andhra Pradesh Legislature passed a resolution urging the inclusion of economically and socially backward Valmiki and Boya castes in the ST list, which was forwarded to the Central government. Vijayasai Reddy emphasized that a final decision on this matter rests with the Center. He also brought attention to Article 243D of the Constitution, which provides SCs and STs with reservations based on their population. Consequently, the ST-listed castes have been granted a 7 percent reservation.
Apart from these measures, the YSR Congress party has persistently advocated for 50 percent reservation for women in legislative assemblies. Vijayasai Reddy asserted that by reserving 50 percent of seats for women across various legislative bodies, the Tribals would gain enhanced representation in addition to the existing 7 percent reservation allotted to them.
