Adivasis alleges KCR dividing them in the name of new districts

Adivasi legendary Kumram Bheemu's grandson Sonerao addressing meeting 

Leaders of various Adivasi organizations alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is dividing the Adivasis for political benefit in the name of the creation of new districts in the state. They demanded the creation of Kumram Bheemu district with 13 tribal mandals including historical Jodeghat of  Kerameri mandal.

The Adivasis threatened to intensify their agitation if state government failed to create Kumram Bheemu district with Jodeghat.   

Hundreds of Adivasis from Utnoor and Asifabad divisions gathered at Jodeghat in Keramaeri mandal and held a meeting in connection with their demand. Adivasi leaders alleged that Telangana state was created at the cost of the Adivasis of the Khammam district. Now again new districts are being created against the interests of the Adivasis in the Telangana state.

The speakers said there is no meaning in Mancherial naming after Kumram Bheemu when their religious places and temples Nagoba, Jangubai, Padmalpuri Kako, Demmalrajul, Indradevi and Kawal Tiger reserve, Kadam and Kumram Bheem projects have remained in Adilabad district.          

All the speakers questioned how state government could merge the Agency areas with the plain areas against the 5^th schedule of Indian constitution and PESA Act. This move was against the constitutional safeguards of the Adivasis.

The leaders said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is creating the new district in the Tribal areas without taking the consent of the Tribal Advisory committee with the MLAs in the state while reminding that there was no Tribal Advisory committee in the state at present.

Adivasi leaders alleged that state government is creating new district eyeing on rich minerals in the agency areas in the Adilabad and said no Adivasi will get elected as public representative if Agency areas are divided vertically and splitting their own vote bank.

‘There is no meaning in creating the Kumram Bheemu district with Mancherial as its headquarters without Jodeghat and Kerameri mandal. The leaders said they had no objection in naming the Kumram Bheemu after Adilabad district merging the agency mandals’, speakers said.

The Adivasi leaders regretted that there would not be any protection for the Adivasis in the developed Mancherial area and their population will be lower as compared to other areas in the district.