The Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, pronounced the Sunnamvarigudem declaration for tribal welfare at Chunchupalli village in Khammam district on Thursday as part of his Indiramma Baata. Under the declaration, rights on forest lands will be confined to eligible tribes, all claims will be settled under the Recognition of Forest Rights (ROFR) Act, and the lands will be developed under the MGNREGS. All lift irrigation schemes in tribal areas across the state will be covered under the Indira Jala Prabha scheme.
Some 2,700 teachers will be recruited to provide education in all ITDA areas. Under Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu, skill development centres will be established in all ITDA areas. All vacant posts in ITDAs will be filled in the next six months and two new tribal battalions will be set up of which one will be exclusively for Primitive Tribal Groups. A study will be conducted to set up School Health Service in all the ashram and residential schools.
Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Indira Jala Prabha blocks in Chunchupalli. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Rs 1,800 crore is being spent to develop the fallow lands belonging to SCs and STs under this programme. He reiterated his government’s commitment to provide clean, transparent and corruption free government. He criticised the Opposition for trying to mislead the public but said that the public are well aware of the facts. He said his government is open to rectifying its mistakes and ensuring that the benefits reached to the poor without giving scope to middlemen.