Tribal MLAs Urge Telangana CM to Strengthen Welfare Measures in Agency Areas
A delegation of tribal legislators led by Telangana Panchayat Raj, Rural Development and Tribal Welfare Minister Seethakka met Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at the State Secretariat on Thursday, seeking additional measures to accelerate the development of agency areas and improve the welfare of tribal communities. During the meeting, the legislators submitted a comprehensive memorandum outlining key demands aimed at addressing long-pending issues and strengthening governance in tribal regions.
The delegation said its primary objective was to promote the overall development of agency areas while ensuring that welfare initiatives reached tribal communities more effectively. The memorandum focused on land rights, education, housing, irrigation, and institutional strengthening.
One of the major demands was the immediate distribution of land ownership titles to eligible tribal families cultivating podu lands. The legislators stated that the issue has remained unresolved for years and urged the state government to expedite the process so that eligible beneficiaries receive legal recognition of their land holdings.
The delegation also requested the effective implementation of the Indira Giri Jala Vikasam programme to improve irrigation facilities for tribal farmers. According to the memorandum, strengthening the scheme at the grassroots level would help improve agricultural productivity and support the livelihoods of farming communities in tribal regions.
Demand for More Indiramma Houses
The tribal MLAs appealed to the Chief Minister to sanction an additional 2,000 Indiramma houses for tribal communities. They said expanded housing support would help address the needs of eligible families in agency areas and contribute to improving living conditions.
Housing has been one of the key welfare priorities in many tribal regions, where access to permanent and secure housing remains an important component of broader socio-economic development.
Focus on Tribal Education
The delegation also highlighted the need to strengthen educational opportunities for tribal students. It requested the government to upgrade tribal Ashram schools across the state to the Intermediate level, arguing that such a move would improve access to higher secondary education for students living in remote areas.
The legislators said expanding educational infrastructure would reduce barriers to continuing studies and provide tribal students with better academic opportunities closer to their communities.
Strengthening ITDAs
Another significant proposal concerned the Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs). The legislators urged the Chief Minister to enhance both the financial and administrative capacity of ITDAs so they can deliver welfare programmes and public services more efficiently in agency areas.
According to the memorandum, stronger ITDAs would enable faster implementation of government schemes and improve administrative outreach in remote tribal regions.
Meeting Focused on Tribal Development
The meeting was held at the State Secretariat as part of discussions on the comprehensive development of Telangana's agency areas. Minister Seethakka led the delegation of tribal legislators, who presented their concerns and recommendations directly to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
The memorandum emphasized that resolving pending issues related to land rights, housing, education, irrigation, and institutional capacity would contribute to the long-term development of tribal communities across the state's agency regions.
No official announcement on the government's response to the requests was made during the meeting.