Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Committee on Tribal Welfare M. Srinivasa Rao on Wednesday said steps were underway to set up an Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) project in Chittoor district.
Speaking to representatives of the tribal welfare associations and officials of the district Tribal Welfare Department, Mr. Rao said in spite of introduction of various welfare schemes, the tribal population elsewhere in the district could not draw the maximum benefit from them and continued to languish. He said the tribal welfare funds were being diverted to other areas.
Mr. Rao said recommendations would be made to the State government for implementation of reservation for Scheduled Tribes in the Endowments Department also. Extensive publicity would be given to the government programmes such as Giri Putrika, aimed at providing a financial assistance of Rs. 50,000 for marriage of tribal girls. He said all the districts would soon have a ‘Girijan Bhavan’.
Later, he held discussions with the district officials at ZP meeting hall and reviewed implementation of reservations in various departments. He also accepted petitions from ST communities. Panel members B. Chiranjeevulu, B. Veeranjaneyulu, Rajeswari and Pushpa Srivani were also present.
