The Communist Party of India would take up indefatigable fight against any effort, project or scheme that would harm the interests of the Girijans, CPI’s State secretary K. Narayana asserted at Paderu on Wednesday.
He came down heavily on the government and the Central and State tribal welfare ministers hailing from the area and warned that the party would not allow bauxite mining in the Agency, during a dharna organised by the party in front of the ITDA, demanding the government to improve the lot of Girijans by taking steps like implementing the ST Sub-Plan, filling up vacancies, provision of better medical facilities, issue of pattas, etc.
“Rights of Girijans in Visakha Agency are not being protected in spite of the Forest Rights Act came into being some years ago. Many Girijans have not been issued pattadar passbooks and FR Act is being grossly violated in the villages where the bauxite mining is proposed. The rulers and officers have totally failed to provide the basic needs of the Girijans here,” Mr. Narayana said.
A Jana Chaitanya Yatra conducted by the party revealed that medical care still out of reach of the Girijans and the main reason for their continued ill health was lack of pure drinking water but the problem had not been addressed to. Even the Collector pointed out the same, Mr. Narayana said. He also said that NREGS and Indiramma housing scheme in Visakha Agency was totally steeped in corruption.
The CPI leader charged Union Tribal Welfare Minister V. Kishore Chandra Deo and State minister P. Balaraju of not totally opposing bauxite mining.
Local CPI leader and district council member Kuda Bhushanam presided. Mr. Narayana along with former MLA G. Demudu, district secretary J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy and former MPP B. Ramarajyam submitted a memorandum to the ITDA authorities listing demands of the Girijans.
Earlier a rally was taken on the streets of Paderu before it culminated in the dharna in front of the ITDA office.
