Tudum Debba stages ‘Adivasila Dharma Yuddham’, demands removal of Lambadas from ST list

Tribal rights organisation Tudum Debba held a massive public meeting titled Adivasula Dharma Yuddham at Utnoor in Adilabad, demanding the removal of the Lambada community from the Scheduled Tribes list. Leaders of several tribal outfits claimed the inclusion of Lambadas had hindered empowerment of other tribal groups.

Adilabad: Tribal rights organisation Tudum Debba organised a public meeting titled Adivasula Dharma Yuddham at the MPDO Ground in Utnoor mandal on Sunday, demanding deletion of the Lambada community from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list. Several tribal organisations extended solidarity to the event.

Responding to a call by Tudum Debba, tribal men and women from various parts of Telangana and neighbouring Maharashtra as well as Chhattisgarh arrived at the venue using different modes of transport. Participants raised slogans urging both the State and the Centre to immediately remove the Lambadas from the ST list, alleging that the community was depriving them of opportunities in education and government employment.

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Leaders of Tudum Debba and other organisations said tribals residing across the country had not been able to attain social and economic empowerment due to the “illegal inclusion” of Lambadas among the Scheduled Tribes. They maintained that tribals were struggling to secure admissions in educational institutions and crack competitive examinations for government jobs as Lambadas were giving stiff competition.

Leaders and representatives from a large number of tribal outfits participated in the meeting, including Tudum Debba, Gondwana Rai Centre, Athar Society, Raj Gond Employees Association, Adivasi Hakkula Porata Samithi, Adivasi Samkshema Parishat, Adivasi Sena, Adivasi Mahila Sangham, Raj Gond Seva Samithi, Adivasi Vidyarthi Sangham, Naikpod Seva Sangham, Pradhan Seva Sangham, Andh Seva Sangham, Birdu Gond Seva Sangham and several others.

A heavy police presence was deployed at the venue to prevent untoward incidents. Commercial establishments remained shut in several parts of the district in view of the gathering at Utnoor.