Education, Healthcare, Roads Get Priority in Tribal Areas
Minister for Women and Child Welfare and district in-charge Minister Gummadi Sandhya Rani said the State government was according priority to education, healthcare, road connectivity and livelihood opportunities in tribal areas.
Speaking at the World Adivasi Day celebrations at the Government Degree College grounds here on Sunday, she said the government was strengthening educational and residential facilities for tribal students through Best Available Schools, Schools of Excellence and Colleges of Excellence. Nearly two lakh tribal students would benefit from the initiatives, she said.
Steps were also being taken to address teacher shortages in tribal schools and ensure teachers for individual classes, besides providing textbooks and uniforms, the Minister said.
Ms. Sandhya Rani said the government was implementing the ‘Adavi Thalli Bata’ programme with an allocation of ₹1,000 crore to improve road connectivity in tribal areas. The initiative, taken up with the involvement of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, was aimed at improving access to remote habitations and essential services, including healthcare.
Around 2,000 tribal candidates had benefited from the recruitment of 16,500 teachers through the District Selection Committee (DSC) process, she said, adding that social security pensions were being provided to eligible tribal beneficiaries from the age of 50.
The government was strengthening the Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) and providing TRICOR loans, subsidised agricultural equipment and seeds to tribal communities and farmers, she said.
Referring to healthcare access, Ms. Sandhya Rani said people in remote tribal areas had earlier been forced to carry patients on traditional dolis due to poor road connectivity and limited medical facilities. Feeder ambulance services had now been introduced to improve access to emergency healthcare, she said.
The celebrations featured traditional tribal dances, music and food. Ms. Sandhya Rani inaugurated the programme by lighting the ceremonial lamp and later joined members of tribal communities in traditional performances.