Adivasis worship nature and profess distinctive religious beliefs

The pan-India campaign being spearheaded by a national-level coordination forum of various Adivasi organisations demanding introduction of a special column for enumerating the population of Adivasis across the country in the next census to be held in 2021, is gaining momentum in the Telangana’s tribal heartland of Bhadrachalam Agency.

Several Adivasi organisations based in Bhadrachalam Agency have launched conventional as well as social media campaigns to mobilise public support for the slew of programmes proposed by the national coordination forum of Adivasis (indigenous people) to give a fillip to the ongoing movement. Adivasi Samkshema Parishad (ASP), Gondwana Study Centre and several other organisations are in the forefront in garnering support for the ongoing national-level campaign.

A special column should be incorporated in the census questionnaire to enumerate the population of Adivasis accurately and protect the distinctive identity of indigenous people across the country, said Madivi Nehru, coordinator of ASP and the founder of the Bhadrachalam-based Gondwana Study Centre. The move is imperative to establish the exact count of Adivasis spread in 15 States including Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and also foster the distinctive belief systems, identity and cultural heritage of Adivasis, he remarked.

Adivasis worship nature and profess distinctive religious beliefs, he noted. A reliable demographic data is essential to effectively plan welfare schemes in proportionate to the population of Adivasis, Mr. Nehru said.

The national coordination forum of Adivasis (indigenous people) will hold a two-day seminar in Hyderabad on May 12 and 13. He said delegates representing several Adivasi organisations from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka will deliberate on the ways to take forward the ongoing campaign during the ensuing two-day seminar.