Konda Reddis are living in abysmal conditions

Members of the Konda Reddi aboriginal tribe are up in arms against the alleged indifference of the authorities in granting them pattas for ‘podu lands’ and addressing their abysmal living conditions.

Several aggrieved Adivasis from Aswaraopeta and Dammapeta mandals sat on a dharna at the old market area in Bhadrachalam town on Monday as part of the ongoing sit-in protest by the Adivasi Konda Reddi Sangham in pursuit of their demands. Addressing the dharna, the Konda Reddi Sangham founder Murla Ramesh alleged that the transfer of seven mandals under the Polavaram project submergence zone to Andhra Pradesh in 2014 had far-reaching consequences for the members of small indigenous Konda Reddi tribe leaving them scattered with their woes further aggravated.

The merger of the seven mandals from Bhadrachalam Agency with the residuary AP had dwindled the population of the Konda Reddi tribe to just little over 1,100 in Telangana mostly inhabiting the tribal areas in Aswaraopeta and Dammapeta mandals, he said, pointing out that the members of the aboriginal tribe were the worst hit by the upcoming Polavaram project in AP.

Konda Reddis are living in abysmal conditions devoid of basic facilities in far-flung habitations and some colonies constructed under the Conservation cum Development Plan (CCDP) in the undivided Andhra Pradesh more than a decade ago, he said. He alleged that many Konda Reddis were deprived of pattas for podu lands being tilled by them in the border mandal of Aswaraopeta, adjoining AP.

He demanded that the government ensure effective implementation of the Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006, to uphold the rights of Adivasis over forest lands. Leaders of various Adivasi organisations and political parties visited the dharna camp and extended their full support to the ongoing stir.