Demanding pattas for the forest lands they have been cultivating in the Agency area, tribal farmers from the Rampachodavaram staged a dharna in front of the Collector’s office here on Monday.
Over 200 farmers from the tribal villages and hamlets of Addateegala mandal, under the aegis of Andhra Pradesh Girijana Sangham affiliated to the CPI (ML) Liberation, participated in the agitation holding the traditional arms and the party flags. Along with the pattas to the cultivable lands, the farmers also demanded that identification of beneficiaries should be done through gram sabhas and caste certificates should be issued to all the tribal people residing in the Agency areas.
Other demands
Their other demands include provision of medical facilities in the tribal villages and hamlets, drinking water, fair price shops and schools in the Agency areas, identification of tribal people residing in the sub-plan areas, cancellation of mining lease in the Agency areas and keeping a tab on the functioning of the employees and officials of the Forest Department.
Addressing the tribal farmers, secretary of the party’s district unit D. Harinath said that though the Forest Rights Act 2005 was a boon to the tribal population, officials of various government departments were making it a bane by forcing the people to run from pillar to post to get the certificates. “The forest special officers from Addateegala and Rajavommangi mandal are creating panic among the public by attacking them for no valid reasons.
Over 200
farmers stage a
dharna
in front of Collector’s office
