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Tribals in throes of starvation in Chittoor dist
Lakhs of girijan families who survive on forest wealth are suffering from the pangs of hunger after being exploited by middlemen in Chittoor district, as the ITDA seems to have deserted them.
Tirupati: Lakhs of girijan families who survive on forest wealth are suffering from the pangs of hunger after being exploited by middlemen in Chittoor district, as the ITDA seems to have deserted them.
- They are being exploited by middlemen who purchase forest wealth from them at throwaway prices
- In a case of negligence, about 5,000 kg of honey has allegedly been allowed to rot, with officials unable to decide what to do after purchasing it from the Velugu division
They are falling victims to attacks when they go to fields in search of work, getting treatment worse than animals, in the process being beaten up.
They are charged with thefts of wires and motors and getting branded as members of smuggler gangs. Officials of the Tribal Welfare department have issued ID cards to only 20 per cent (3,000 till date) of the targeted groups.
It has stopped bothering about their welfare. The girijans are left helpless as the administration adopts an indifferent attitude. In a case of negligence, about 5,000 kg of honey has allegedly been allowed to rot, with officials unable to decide what to do after purchasing it from the Velugu division.
The ITDA office---on which 1.2 lakh girijans, of the 1.7 lakh tribal population in the district, depend on for their livelihood---has been vacated and attached to the Nellore regional manager’s office in 2006.
The office staff, which is to oversee five districts, does not seem interested in taking care of the poor tribals. They have to make do with only one inspector and are utilising the services of retired employees.
As a result, tribals survive on what is available in their thandas. They become victims of middlemen after selling the forest wealth at throwaway prices. The middlemen are becoming millionaires thanks to the worst possible exploitation.
The Yanadi, Yerukula, Sugalis and Nakkala castes live in 1,283 small thandas, gudems and villages. They mainly survive by selling the forest wealth.
About 1.2 lakh Yanadis secure forest wealth. While nearly half of them who migrate take up agriculture, the others do small tasks for a living. Now only 65,000 depend on forest in Punganur, Palamner, Sudam, Solmala, Chowdepalli, Chandragiri, Yerravaripalem and Kevipalle mandals.
The Yanadis fear going into forests because of combing operations by Task Force officials to check red sanders smuggling.
On March 18, the Vigilance officials had caught two lorry loads of forest products being illegally sent out of Somala to other States. Had the products been sold on a regular basis at least 100 families of girijans would have been benefited.
Of the target for 2016 of securing products worth Rs 24 lakh, so far, only Rs 7 lakh has been procured.Speaking to The Hans India, CPM leader Muragaiah demanded re-location of the ITDA office in Chittoor district. He criticised official negligence resulting in only one officer taking care of the interests of about one lakh girijans.
By:K Murali Mohan
