The CPI (ML-New Democracy) district committee launched a campaign titled Podu Bhoomula Parirakshana Porata Yatra in the predominantly tribal-populated Gundala mandal on Monday demanding protection of the rights of tribal people over ‘Podu’ lands.
The party district secretary, P. Ranga Rao, participated in a rally held in Gundala, marking the beginning of the two-week-long yatra slated to be organised in several mandals in the district.
Tribal people from various parts of the mandal and its adjoining tribal sub-plan mandals in Kothagudem division took part in the rally.
Addressing the participants, Mr. Ranga Rao alleged that tribal people were being denied rights over ‘podu lands’ in their possession for many years.
Efforts are on to drive Adivasis away from their natural habitat, he charged, alleging that the coercive measures against the hapless Adivasis amounted to depriving them of their traditional source of livelihood (podu cultivation).
Ineffective implementation of the Forest Rights Act has compounded the woes of tribal people, he deplored, asserting that the yatra will be spearheaded in several mandals across the district to safeguard their rights at any cost.
Meanwhile, the activists owing allegiance to the CPI (M) Wyra division committee took out a huge rally in Khammam demanding grant of rights to tribal people over ‘podu’ lands.
They staged a dharna near Collectorate to press for their demand.
CPI (M) State leader Nunna Nageswara Rao and others led the demonstration.
