Adivasi Committee demands self-rule in tribal areas

Metro India News | Hyderabad :

The National Coordination Committee for Adivasi Constitutional Rights and Cultural Protection on Thursday announced the formation of its Telangana State committee to strengthen the movement for Adivasi constitutional rights, tribal self-governance and protection of tribal culture and identity.

Addressing the media at Lakdikapul in Hyderabad on Thursday, former MLA and former Zilla Parishad chairman Chanda Lingayya Dora said the committee would work towards implementing Gram Sabha-based governance under the slogan “Our Villages – Our Rule.” He alleged that provisions of the PESA Act, 1996, which grants self-governance rights to Adivasi villages in Fifth Schedule Areas, were not being implemented effectively.

He said strengthening Gram Sabhas, preventing alienation of tribal lands, protecting forest rights and safeguarding Adivasi rights over “Jal, Jungle, Zameen” would be the committee’s key objectives. Lingayya Dora demanded that the Governor take immediate steps to improve governance in Scheduled Tribal Areas and said a delegation would soon meet the Governor to explain the problems being faced by tribal communities.

The committee also alleged that migration of non-tribal populations into agency areas was resulting in displacement, land loss and erosion of Adivasi cultural identity. It further demanded a separate Adivasi State, inclusion of the Koyattur language in the Eighth Schedule, a separate code for “Adivasi Religion” in the 2027 Census and proper utilisation of ST Sub-Plan funds under Gram Sabha supervision.