Clamour grows for tribal varsity

Khammam: On the occasion of World Tribal Day on Thursday, the representatives of ‘Sevalal Vidyarthi Sena’ (SVS) led by Sena’s district president Banothu Srikanth Naik took out a rally from Pavilion Grounds to Dharna Chowk. After the rally, they staged a sit-in in front of Collectorate office and submitted a memorandum to district collector DS Lokesh Kumar.

Addressing the representatives, Banothu Srikanth Naik alleged that the State and Central governments were taking away the rights of tribals by adopting anti-tribal policies.

He added that for the first time in the world, the representatives belonging to tribal community got an opportunity to speak for their rights at United Nations Organisation on August 9 in 1994. So, this day is celebrated as World Tribal Day by the indigenous people across the world, he informed.

He alleged that successive governments have been neglecting tribals though they make up for the 8.6 per cent (10.42 crore) of world population. “It is sad that both the State and Central governments are not celebrating the World Tribal Day officially.

Moreover, the governments are not fulfilling the ST backlog posts and did not fulfill the promise of establishment of a tribal university, which was made at the time of State’s bifurcation,” he criticised.

He demanded the government to fulfill the promises it made to tribals by establishing the tribal university and allocate 10 per cent reservations in education and employment sectors for tribals.

Sena’s representative B Balu Naik, D Ramdas Naik, Vinod Naik, Naveen Naik, Kalyana Naik, Jyothi Bai, Swaroopa Bai, Vijaya Bai, Subbu Naik, Rajesh Naik, Shoban Naik, Anil Naik and Nagendra Babu were present along with hundreds of students.