Visakhapatnam: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday said that his government improved the lot of Advasis in the state by transferring Rs 16,805 crore to over 88 lakh adivasi families in the state during the last four years.
After laying foundation stone for the Central Tribal University at Chinamedapalli village under Mentada mandal of Vizianagaram district along with Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday, the Chief Minister said that 36.12 lakh families got the direct benefit transfer of Rs 11,548 crore and 22,26 lakh families got Rs 5,257 crore as non-direct benefit transfer which include the supply of tabs, Vidya Divena and other welfare schemes.
Addressing the public meeting at Maradam in Dattirajeru mandal close to the university site, the Chief Minister said that his government fulfilled the promises made in the election manifesto and brought in revolutionary changes in health and education sectors.
“We are developing two medical colleges, a tribal university and a tribal engineering college in addition to medical colleges in Paderu, Parvathipuram, Narsipatnam and Chodavaram in tribal tracts during this 50 month rule,’’ Jagan Mohan Reddy said.
Giving space in political affairs, this government accommodated two tribals as deputy chief ministers and many were given nominated posts so that they take part in the decision making process, the chief minister added.
Speaking on the occasion, Union minister for education and skill development Dharmendra Pradhan said though their parties were different, Prime Minister Nardendra Modi praised the good work of Jagan Mohan Reddy, particularly the introduction of bilingual textbooks.
He said the establishment of tribal university would lead to all-round development of Adivasis of tribal states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chattisgarh nurturing culture and languages of Adivasis while imparting higher education which include technology.
The Union minister asked vice chancellor Kattamani to establish a link between tribal universities of Andhra and Odishas for comprehensive development of the tribals.
He said tribals comprise 10 per cent of the population but the UPA government spent only Rs 24,600 crore in their tenure while their NDA government spent Rs 1.20 lakh so far.
Deputy chief minister and minister for tribal welfare Peedika Rajanna Dora said the development of tribals was taking rapid strides under the Jagan Mohan Reddy government. He said 2.10 lakh tribal students were enrolled in 2,705 institutions created for Adivasis.
"This tribal university is an important milestone for the adivasis living in Andhra Pradesh,’’ Dora said. The state minister for education Botsa Satyanarayana and other local leaders were present in the function.
