In Sharma's death, Adivasis of TS lose a friend indeed

B.D Sharma 

Former commissioner of National Commission for SCs and STs and Adivasi rights activist B. D Sharma, who passed away on Sunday, has worked all his life for the empowerment of the Adivasis and their constitutional rights. He had special attachment with Adivasis of the Adilabad.  

Sharma led the Adivasis agitation demanding that governments recognize Rai centres (socio cultural centres and traditional decision making bodies Adivasis) legislative bodies in the Adilabad.

He had worked closely with the Adivasis of the Adilabad and toured the district extensively. He was also instrumental in enactment of PESA and Forest Rights Act.

Telangana Adivasi Aikya Vedika state convenor Sidam Shambu recalled his association with the B. D Sharma. 

Shambu said Sharma extensively toured the Adivasi areas and studied the functioning of Rai centres and demanded legislative powers to these social institutions.

N. Madhusudan of Food Sovereignty India said ‘Sharma strongly advocated the Self Rule for the Adivasis with the slogan Mava Nate Mava Raj (Our rule in Our Village) and effective implementation of Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act PESA,1996 and Forest Rights Act-2006’. He said with the passing of B.D Sharma, Adivasis of the country have lost a strong voice.

Another Adivasi leader Shiva Prasad of Adivasi Aikya Vedika said B. D Sharma was unhappy with the way the Forest Rights Act was being implemented in the country though it was an Act enacted to empower the Adivasis and to protect their rights.       

Interest of Adivasis to be protected: KTR

Minister for Panchayat raj and IT K. Taraka Rama Rao on Tuesday said that the next elections for grampanchayats will be conducted only after making Adivasi gudems and lambada thandas in agency areas with a population of 500 as gram Panchayats in the Telangana state.

Mr Ramarao told the Adivasis that next elections for GPs in the agency areas will be held in the gram panchayats as per Adivasis slogan ‘Mava Nate Mava Raj’ (Our government in our Village).         

Addressing a public meeting at Jodeghat on the occasion of Komaram Bheem’s 75^th death anniversary, he said the state government was in the process of creation of Gudems and Thandas as Grampanchayats.

The minister promised the Adivasis that the state government and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Ra will not do anything against the interests of Adivasis and their survival and will give importance to all the tribals.

He said first priority would be given to the Adivasi gudems in the agency areas in giving drinking water under Telangana Water Grid Scheme and 50 double bedroom houses will be constructed for the Adivasi families of Jodeghat.

Ramarao reeled out various welfare and development schemes being implemented by the state government and was all praised for the CM’s initiatives for the welfare of the Tribals.

Minister Ramarao said state government was making efforts to strengthen the government hospitals in the agency areas by upgrading the PHCs and filling up the doctors’ posts. The government also plans to increase salaries of the doctors working in the agency areas, he said.

Ministers Jogu Ramanna, Allola Indrakaran Reddy, Chandu Lal and Sanskritika Sarasdhi Rasmai Balakishan, in their speeches said the state government was committed to the welfare and development of the Tribals.

Adilabad MP Godam Nagesh and Peddapalli MP Balka Suman stressed on the importance of the education and appealed to the Adivasis focus more on education to change their lives.

Komaram Sonerao, grandson of Komaram Bheem, thanked the CM for recognizing sacrifices of Adivasi matyrs led by his grandfather who fought for their community rights. He appealed to government to sanction double bedroom houses to the Adivasis. All the Ministers inaugurated Jal, Jungle and Jameen arch and paid homage to Komaram Bheem