First ITDA General Body Meeting Held After 2022
Ganja trade, issuance of fake tribal ID cards in focus; host of development works okayed
Visakhapatnam:The Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) governing body meeting was held after a gap of 33 months in Paderu on Monday, during which district collectors were asked to prevent illegal applicants from obtaining tribal caste certificates.
Tribal welfare minister Gummadi Sandhyarani and ITDA chairman A.S. Dinesh Kumar chaired the 74th governing body meeting.
Sandhyarani, who is also in-charge minister of ASR district, announced several initiatives. “Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has paid special attention to eradicating cannabis trade. Smart markets are being established with investment of `6 crores within the limits of six ITDAs,” she said.
Smart markets are a long-pending promise. They aim to bring modern technologies to the region.
She assured the mega DSC process would be completed in a fair manner. The Andhra Pradesh government released the mega DSC notification for 16,437 teacher posts on Sunday.
She said 11 educational institutions will be upgraded with `34 crores. However, the minister pointed out that an additional `132 crores was needed for further basic infrastructure improvements in agency areas.
She urged the ITDA in-charge project officer, Dr. M.J. Abhishek Gowda, to monitor the health and nutrition of tribal students. The minister said road construction under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme will receive `450 crores.
Additionally, 35 multi-purpose centres are being built at a cost `25 crores. These centres can be used for diverse needs like storing produce and also to shelter displaced during floods.
Sandhyarani encouraged SC and ST groups to take advantage of the Prime Minister's Surya Ghar scheme (free solar power).
Chairman Dinesh Kumar, who is also Prakasam district collector, gave details on welfare schemes, including plans for a blood bank in Araku and a drugstore in Paderu. Araku MP Gumma Thanuja Rani announced the sanctioning of 11 ambulances through the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds and highlighted the need for paediatricians at Araku Area Hospital.
Madugula MLA Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy and Chodavaram MLA Kalidindi Surya Naga Sanyasi Raju were also present at the meeting. Raju emphasised that ITDA benefits should be provided to tribal communities in sub-plan mandals.
Paderu MLA Matsyarasa Visweswara Raju called for re-establishing an alternative to GO No. 3 and stressed on the importance of effectively implementing the 1/70 Act to protect the land rights of tribals. Araku MLA Regam Matyalingam highlighted the need to remove illegal structures and prevent government land encroachment.
The event ended with a 'baby shower' programme for pregnant women and Annaprasana for toddlers. Other attendees at the meeting included MLC Kumbha Ravi Babu, Zilla Parishad president Jallipalli Subhadra, Anakapalli collector Vijaya Krishnan, ZPTCs of 11 mandals, MPPSs, tehsildars, MPDOs and other officials.
