If the adivasis of Adilabad district look a bit extra keen about the famous Nagoba Jatara this year, their enthusiasm may not actually be out of place.
They are expecting at least Rs.10 crore development bonanza from Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, who is slated to visit the annual event to conduct the ‘darbar’.
“He is giving Rs.10 crore to every segment of society so we are also hopeful of getting grants worth that much,” states Mesram Tukaram, the chairman of the Nagoba temple committee.
“Being a place associated with the ancient history, our temple also needs to see adequate development,” he opines.
Hopeful of funds
Gond leaders have based their hopes on the (spree of) allocations, which Mr. Rao has made recently to different segments of society. In addition to the construction of an Adivasi Bhavan in Hyderabad, he has allocated Rs.10 crore each to Christian, Brahman, and Kurma communities.
It may also be recalled that the Chief Minister had started allocating funds for community infrastructure development from Adilabad during his visit to Jodeghat in Kerameri mandal on October 8. He sanctioned Rs.25 crore for developing the remote village associated with legendary Gond martyr Kumram Bheem as a tourist centre.
Tourist centre sought
“We want this place also to be developed as a tourist centre,” demands Mesram Nagnath, the Sarpanch of Keslapur village.
“Though the jatara is related to the Mesram clan of Gonds, it is equally important for all adivasis as the annual tribal ‘darbar’ is held during this event only,” he adds.
The week-long Nagoba jatara will start around midnight on January 19 with the ritualistic puja of the serpent God in the temple.
Usually, the ‘darbar’ is held on the third or fourth day of the jatara, but is likely to get rescheduled this time due to the visit of Mr. Rao.
“The Chief Minister is definitely benevolent to grant us sufficient money. He has always evinced keen interest in the development of the tribal people,” says Kanaka Lakke Rao, the district general secretary of Telangana Rashtra Samiti’s ST cell.
