Chief Minister Sri K Chandrashekhar Rao has taken a revolutionary decision in the history of India towards political empowerment of the ST ( Scheduled Tribes) communities in the Telangana state. CM KCR realized the long pending Tribals demand for ´ Maa Thandalo Maa Rajayam” ( My habitation my rule). The tribal habitations have been promoted as self ruling Tandas ( Gram Panchayats) and fulfilled their aspirations.
CM KCR’s decision to implement the self-governance policy in the Tandas brought a positive change in the social development of the ST community in the state. The Telangana Government created a history of converting Thandals and Gudems with a population of more than 500 into new Gram Panchayats. Tribals are delighted over promoting a total of 3,146 Thandas and Gudems into Panchayats .
Thousands of Adivasi, Lambadi and Tribal youths won the local body elections and assumed charge as Sarpanchs and Ward members. Political transformation in the Tanda Gram Panchayats helped the tribal community to play an active role in the Telangana government. The State government has not only confined to converting Thandas into Gram Panchayats.
The government also earmarked adequate funds and spending the same for their comprehensive development which paved the way for continuous growth of the panchayats . The government sanctioned Rs 20 lakh for the construction of each Gram Panchayat building. The government has given permission to fill up 1650 posts in the tribal welfare department. Rs 1,385 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of 2,500 km of roads to provide road facilities to 1,287 ST panchayats .
Under STSDF (Scheduled Tribes Special Development Fund ( PR), the state government sanctioned construction of 88 BT roads in 16 assembly constituencies dominated by the ST habitations in the state. As part of that, the government sanctioned 88 works with an estimation of Rs.156.60 crores to lay BT roads on 211.86 km stretch. Government orders have already been issued to this effect. The supervision of the work on the proposed BT roads is completed under the supervision of the Engineer-in-Chief of the Panchayat Raj Department. The SC and ST Development Fund Act – 2017 has been framed with provisions aimed at allocating funds for the development of SCs and STs in the state through the act .
So far under SDF, the government spent Rs.47,282 crores for the welfare of STs alone. The authorities plunged into action to start the sanctioned BT road works immediately. Officials are conducting surveys of road works along with local public representatives. Panchayati Raj department officials conducted surveys in the presence of local Sarpanches to undertake the work of 13 km BT roads with an estimated cost of Rs.9.75 crores from Papakollu of Julurupadu mandal of Vyra constituency to Buradharaghawapuram of Enkur mandal under the Special Development Fund of STs. Tribals are expressing happiness that the government is taking steps on a war footing to improve the connectivity to the ST habitats which do not have the facility in 16 assembly constituencies.
BT roads will provide transportation facilities and improve the road connectivity for the Tribals who will get many benefits including access to Education, medical, essential commodities etc. Due to the neglect of the previous governments, tribal dwellers in the of Tandas and Gudems were deprived of many basic amenities and stayed away from mainstream life for decades.
Big transformation took place in the tribal panhayats with the empowerment and autonomy accorded to the habitations by CM KCR government. The credit will go to CM KCR government for brining monumental changes in the lives of tribal community with the construction of BT roads. Transportation facility is improved to the tribal Panchayats located in the remote forest areas. The long-standing problem of tribals is being addressed with SDF funds.
