With the formation of new districts, the tribals under the ITDA Eturunuagaram are finding it difficult to secure benefits under various welfare schemes.
Though each district has got one Tribal Welfare Officer (TWO), they have limited powers and have been asking the tribals to approach ITDA at Eturunagaram. “We have been asking for setting up of ITDA in all the districts and in Jangaon and Warangal Urban district, there are no DTWO,” said Tudumdebba, a adivasi tribal body’s State vice-president.
In the united Warangal district, the tribals accounted for 15.13 % with 5.30 lakh population. The ITDA Eturunagaram was set up in 1986. Now the Eturunagaram comes under Bhupalpalli district and those living in Mahabubabad, Warangal Urban, Warangal rural and Jangaon districts find it difficult approaching the ITDA for their benefits. The scheduled villages have been distributed in various districts.
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For instance, the tribals living in Wazedu and Venkatapuram mandals are asked to go to ITDA Bhadrachalam, as those two mandals are now merged with the Bhupalpalli district. Though the district administration has been taking care of health and education needs, land issues are still looked after by the ITDA Bhadrachalam. Similarly, tribals living in Mahabubabad, Gudur and Kothaguda mandals now come under Mahabubabad district. When they have land issues, they are asked to approach ITDA Eturunagaram or Warangal rural district administration.
Adivasi Sankshema Parishad district president M Venkatesh said the higher officers were not serious in addressing the tribal problems.” At the ITDA governing body meeting, only two Collectors attended the meeting. The same is the case with Zilla Parishad general body meeting. The formation of new districts is not still complete as the tribals continue to face problems,” he opined.
Girijana Reservation Sadhana Samiti district president Nehruchand Naik said the ITDAs became defunct after formation of new districts as their jurisdiction is restricted and no new guidelines are issued afresh.
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