Girijan Bandhu for \'landless STs\' in 12 ST reserved constituencies first

HYDERABAD: A week after Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao promised to launch Girijan Bandhu for landless tribal communities on the lines of Dalit Bandhu, the tribal welfare department has initiated process to draft the modalities for its implementation.

Officials proposed to launch a pilot of the scheme in 12 Assembly constituencies reserved for the ST communities for 100 families and scale it up gradually. The 12 constituencies are: Mulug, Dornakal and Mahbubabad in undivided Warangal district, Wyra, Aswaraopeta, Yellandu, Bhadrachalam and Pinapaka in undivided Khammam district, Asifabad, Khanapur and Boath in undivided Adilabad district and Devarakonda in undivided Nalgonda district. Mulug is represented by Congress MLA Seethakka, the rest by the TRS MLAs.

Official sources said that the government has begun the process to hold coordination meetings with respective ministers, MLAs, forest
and revenue officials of respective districts to resolve Podu land applications submitted by ST community applicants last year seeking ownership rights.

After approving the applications, the list of ineligible applicants who will become 'landless' will be given priority in extending Girijan Bandhu. They will be extended financial assistance of `10 lakh each to set up any units or pursue any livelihood activity of their choice