Tribal sections in Telangana claim self-rule asserting unique politico-historic identities, alleging the improper implementation of Reservation Policy.
The aboriginal tribal persons in Telangana will continue the movement for removal of Lambada tribe from the list of Scheduled Tribes.
The Adivasis allege the Lambadas of exploiting reservations for Scheduled Tribes, and depriving them of opportunities in education and employment. The Adivasis are fighting against cultural appropriation by the Lambadas.
The Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution along with Article 244 states that some lands in the nation which have a large tribal population can be designated “Scheduled Areas” by the President of India
The Constitution asserts that these areas can administer a Tribal Advisory Council to advise the Governor on the administration of these areas, including laws that can be implemented. In 1996, the Scheduled Areas were given the right to self-governance through the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act .
It is recorded that four districts in Telangana are partly covered under PESA – Adilabad, Mahboobnagar, Khammam and Warangal.
The protest claims self-governance in Karimnagar, Kothagudem, Komaram Bheem, Mahabubabad, Khammam, Mancherial, and Nirmal.
They hoped that the meeting with Chief Secretary S. K. Joshi on Thursday afternoon at State Secretariat in Hyderabad would lead to a result out of the crisis was lost as nothing could be materialised in the meeting. The government had invited Adivasi leaders for talks with the Chief Secretary.
About 40 leasers led by Adivasi Hakkula Porata Samithi’s Soyam Bapu Rao and Athram Sakku met Mr. Joshi. They informed government officials their decision not to compromise on the issue of expelling Lambadas from STs List.
Mr. Joshi said it was not possible to fulfil the demand. The leaders enlightened him about other issues related to land, employment and education to which the Chief Secretary responded saying he would tell the Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. The Adivasis were not unsatisfied after the talks and decided to continue with their agitation for declaring self-rule in the villages.
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