Adivasis march 80 km to reclaim land rights in Bhadradri Kothagudem

Over 150 Adivasi families from Ramannagudem undertook an 80 km padayatra demanding land rights. Despite a 2011 High Court ruling in their favour, forest officials continue to restrict cultivation. A resolution was promised within ten days by district authorities

Kothagudem: Adivasis from Ramannagudem village in Aswaraopet mandal of the district undertook an 80 km padayatra to the district headquarters on Thursday, demanding rights over their land.

Braving the rain, the tribals staged a dharna in front of the district collectorate, urging the administration to hand over land they claimed rightfully belonged to them. Former sarpanch Madakam Sarupa and Tudum Debba leader Tamballa Ravi said around 150 tribal families had been cultivating land in survey numbers 30, 36, and 39 of Ramannagudem since 1954.

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A dispute over 573.20 acres of land between the tribals and the Forest Department has persisted for nearly two decades. In 2011, the High Court ruled that the land under cultivation belonged to the tribals. However, the authorities have not implemented the court’s verdict, the leaders alleged.

They also pointed out that although the government had issued patta passbooks, forest officials continued to assert that the survey numbers fell under Lankalapalli revenue village and belonged to the Forest Department. As a result, forest officials have been preventing the tribals from cultivating the land.

The leaders further complained that four Indiramma houses sanctioned for Ramannagudem were allotted to non-tribals, in violation of the PESA Act. They demanded the suspension of the MPDO and the panchayat secretary, accusing them of injustice towards the tribals.

The protesting Adivasis submitted a memorandum to Additional Collector Venu Gopal, who assured them that the matter would be brought to the notice of District Collector Jitesh V. Patil and resolved within ten days.