Hundreds of Adivasis from the tribal pockets in Kothagudem division took out a massive demonstration at Komararam village in Yellendu mandal on Saturday to press for grant of rights over ‘podu lands’ being tilled by them for many years.
The demonstration was organised under the aegis of the CPI (ML-New Democracy) district committee and its frontal organisation All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS).
Adivasis comprising a significant number of women from different parts of Agency areas in Yellendu and its neighbouring mandals participated in the protest demonstration at Komararam.
Addressing the demonstrators, the CPI (ML-ND) district secretary P. Ranga Rao alleged that cases were being foisted against Adivasis engaged in ‘podu cultivation’ in the lands under their possession for decades.
Levels charge
He charged the successive governments with handing over thousands of acres of land to the multinational companies and subjecting hapless Adivasis to coercive measures for cultivating ‘podu lands’, their traditional source of livelihood.
He demanded that the government should effectively implement the Forest Rights Act and safeguard the rights of Adivasis over ‘podu lands’ under their possession for a long. The party’s State leader V. Venkataramaiah, former MLA Gummadi Narsaiah and others spoke.
