Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M) Brinda Karat will visit Visakha Agency on July 9 and 10 to participate in an agitation against bauxite mining and in a programme demanding a better deal to primitive tribal groups (PTGs).
On July 11, she will lead a dharna in front of the Collectorate here demanding food security to the poor.
This was announced by party district secretary Ch. Narasinga Rao at a press conference he addressed along with district secretariat member K. Lokanadham here on Wednesday.
In spite of strong opposition to the plans to exploit bauxite ore in the Agency, the government was making all efforts to take up mining, and the latest was a training programme for 196 girijan youths by the AP Mineral Development Corporation at Chintapalli.
The real intention was to make the girijans accept mining, said Mr. Narasinga Rao.
New policy decried
The new mining policy removed the right of gram sabhas to decide for or against mining and other activities, and allowed the ZP and MPP members to take a decision.
This was against the PESA rules and the 1/70 Regulation, which gave total rights to the girijans over mine in their areas.
The new policy would help investors only, he said.
The CPI(M) leaders said the Congress government had grossly neglected the PTGs in the Visakha Agency in spite of the Union and the State Tribal Welfare Ministers hailing from the area.
The stipulations that every PTG habitat or village must be provided road, drinking water, power supply, education, and medical aid were not implemented.
‘Chalo ITDA’
The party would organise ‘Chalo ITDA’ at Paderu on July 10 to highlight the plight of PTGs and demand that the government improve their lot.
