A meeting of Scheduled Tribe (ST) MLAs was held at the Damodaram Sanjivayya Welfare Bhavan in Masab Tank under the leadership of Minister Seetakka and TRICOR Chairman Bellayya Naik. Cutting across party lines, several ST legislators attended the meeting along with top officials from the Tribal Welfare Department.
The meeting focused on reviewing the socio-economic conditions of tribal and Adivasi communities and identifying measures for their welfare.
Seetakka emphasised that tribal communities are the most marginalized globally and stressed the need for unity to drive their development.
She directed officials to submit a detailed report on the socio-economic status of STs to facilitate the formulation of targeted welfare schemes in the upcoming budget.
“The government is committed to tribal welfare. The BRS administration neglected important issues like podu land rights and the strengthening of ITDAs. Schemes like Indira Jalaprabha were deliberately weakened by withholding water allocations,” Seetakka said, highlighting past lapses.
She assured that the Chief Minister had responded positively to concerns raised and that a special meeting of ST MLAs with the Chief Minister was scheduled for February 6 to discuss
these issues further. The meeting decided to allocate Rs 2 crore for Sant Sevalal Jayanti celebrations which would be observed across all tribal schools and hamlets on February 15. Special officers would be appointed in all districts for Sant Sevalal Jayanti celebrations.
Infrastructure projects costing Rs 250 crore would be launched in tribal schools and hostels, including drinking water and toilet facilities.
A directive will be issued to officials to speed up spending of ST Welfare Department funds before the financial year ends along with a commitment to prevent diversion of ST welfare funds for other purposes.
The meeting decided to take strong action against contractors failing to complete works in tribal areas and ITDA regions. Recruitment of teachers in tribal schools and the filing of hostel staff vacancies would be prioritised.
Three ST corporations will be strengthened to enhance economic support for tribals. Two new post-matric ST hostels would be established in Hyderabad and 250 additional overseas scholarships would be granted to ST students.
Rs 1 crore would be allotted per ST constituency for constructing tribal welfare buildings. The government would be requested to sanction 10,000 to 15,000 Indiramma houses in ITDA areas and youth training centres would be strengthened in tribal regions, the meeting decided.
A new ITDA would be established for tribal communities living in plains. Geysers and water filters would be installed in ST hostels. Ashram schools would be upgraded to offer Intermediate courses, the meeting decided.
The Indiramma Giri Vikasam scheme would be revived. Teacher posts in agency areas would be exclusively reserved for tribals. Education in mother-tongue would be promoted in tribal regions. Regular teachers would be appointed in tribal colleges. Rs 100 crore would be released as TRICOR subsidy for tribal economic support, the meeting said.
