Latest news with #Chenchus
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HRF demands immediate restoration of doorstep delivery of rations in tribal areas
The Human Rights Forum (HRF) has raised serious concern over the State government's decision to dismantle the doorstep delivery system for distribution of rations. According to Y. Rajesh, HRF AP State general secretary, and V.S. Krishna, HRF AP& Telangana Coordination Committee member, it a setback to the food security of the Adivasi communities. Introduced in 2021, the doorstep delivery model ensured rations were handed over directly to beneficiaries through mobile dispensing units (MDUs), even in remote habitations. This reduced the travel burden for the elderly, persons with disabilities and daily wage workers. In Adivasi areas - especially among the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) such as the Chenchus resident in Nallamala forests - this system was a critical step towards ensuring ensuring they were able to access the welfare delivery. At several places, Adivasis are now forced to walk up to 10 km across difficult terrain to access rations. Consequently, many of them are having to forgo their rations altogether because of a clear logistical and financial burden. The State government's claim that beneficiaries were missing rations under the doorstep system is in contrast to evidence on the ground. A field survey by LibTech India, a policy research organisation, covering 790 Adivasi respondents in the Paderu ITDA region of Alluri Sitharamaraju district found that 83% preferred the doorstep delivery system over the depot system for collecting rations. Notably, 92% stated that it had reduced travel distance. While 75% of respondents said that under-delivery was a recurring issue at depots, 65% experienced coercion to purchase additional items. Clearly, for many Adivasi families' residing in remote areas, the doorstep system removed significant travel barriers to access ration supplies. The doorstep delivery system also allowed flexibility. If a household missed the first MDU visit, they could collect their ration from the mini-truck parked later at the local secretariat. In some instances, the trucks returned again within the month. However, instead of strengthening these mechanisms, the present government has chosen to abandon them entirely. The HRF leaders allege that the recent rollback appears to have been driven by a powerful lobby of ration depot dealers who felt threatened by the transparency and accountability introduced by the MDU system. The current decision subverts the core objectives of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, in particular Section 30, and also violates the spirit behind the Scheduled Tribe Componen t(STC) funds that aim to ensure targeted and equitable delivery of welfare services to the Scheduled Tribes. They demanded the immediate restoration of the doorstep ration delivery system across all Adivasi areas, with a provision for depot access to those who miss the MDU. The door delivery model must be strengthened through improved logistics, volunteer support and robust grievance redressal mechanisms.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Free sand to beneficiaries to build Indiramma homes: Telangana housing minister
HYDERABAD : The Congress govt will supply sand free of cost for construction of Indiramma houses to the scheme beneficiaries, revenue and housing minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy announced at a programme in Mulugu district where he distributed approval letters of Indiramma houses. Ponguleti directed all the collectors to ensure that sand stockpiles are kept ready and supplied free of cost to beneficiaries. Sources said the govt was also in talks with steel and cement companies for supplying them at a subsidised rate. He said that if beneficiaries begin construction within the next 10–15 days, funds will be released to them every Monday. Forest officials will be instructed to allow people living in makeshift homes within forest areas to construct Indiramma houses at the same locations, he said. Over 9,800 Chenchus were sanctioned Indiramma houses, which, he said, was a historic decision of the Congress govt. "In addition to 3,500 Indiramma houses for Mulugu constituency at the rate of 3,500 for each of the 119 assembly constituencies in the state, an additional 1,500 units were sanctioned in the Integrated Tribal Development Agency limits," he said. Responding to minister D Anasuya Seethakka's request, Ponguleti sanctioned another 1,000 Indiramma houses to the Mulugu and ITDA areas in the constituency. Stating that the incumbent 'Indiramma govt' was synonymous with Indiramma housing, Ponguleti said 25.5 lakh such houses were sanctioned to the poor by the previous Congress govt of the combined AP state in the Telangana region alone. "After the formation of Telangana state, the previous BRS govt, which held power for two terms, sanctioned only 92,000 houses and completed 60,000 of them. Nearly 30,000 houses were left incomplete with only walls standing. The contractors were not paid for their work by the previous regime," he alleged. The minister said there were at least 60 eligible beneficiaries in every village, but currently only about 30 houses per village can be sanctioned. However, he assured that all eligible families will be provided houses in a phased manner in future. "The target of the Congress govt is to construct 20 lakh Indiramma houses with a budget of Rs 22,500 crore over the next four years," Ponguleti said and appealed to the people to observe the welfare schemes being implemented by the Congress govt and support it in the upcoming local body elections. On the issue of Bhu Bharathi (land records), Ponguleti pointed out that during the previous govt farmers had to run from pillar to post for resolution of land issues. Now, revenue officials were proactively reaching out to the people to resolve their problems, he said.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Free sand to beneficiaries to build Indiramma houses: Ponguleti
Hyderabad: The Congress govt will supply sand free of cost for construction of Indiramma houses to the scheme beneficiaries, revenue and housing minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy announced at a programme in Mulugu district where he distributed approval letters of Indiramma houses. Ponguleti directed all the collectors to ensure that sand stockpiles are kept ready and supplied free of cost to beneficiaries. Sources said the govt was also in talks with steel and cement companies for supplying them at a subsidised rate. He said that if beneficiaries begin construction within the next 10–15 days, funds will be released to them every Monday. Forest officials will be instructed to allow people living in makeshift homes within forest areas to construct Indiramma houses at the same locations, he said. Over 9,800 Chenchus were sanctioned Indiramma houses, which, he said, was a historic decision of the Congress govt. "In addition to 3,500 Indiramma houses for Mulugu constituency at the rate of 3,500 for each of the 119 assembly constituencies in the state, an additional 1,500 units were sanctioned in the Integrated Tribal Development Agency limits," he said. Responding to minister D Anasuya Seethakka's request, Ponguleti sanctioned another 1,000 Indiramma houses to the Mulugu and ITDA areas in the constituency. Stating that the incumbent 'Indiramma govt' was synonymous with Indiramma housing, Ponguleti said 25.5 lakh such houses were sanctioned to the poor by the previous Congress govt of the combined AP state in the Telangana region alone. "After the formation of Telangana state, the previous BRS govt, which held power for two terms, sanctioned only 92,000 houses and completed 60,000 of them. Nearly 30,000 houses were left incomplete with only walls standing. The contractors were not paid for their work by the previous regime," he alleged. The minister said there were at least 60 eligible beneficiaries in every village, but currently only about 30 houses per village can be sanctioned. However, he assured that all eligible families will be provided houses in a phased manner in future. "The target of the Congress govt is to construct 20 lakh Indiramma houses with a budget of Rs 22,500 crore over the next four years," Ponguleti said and appealed to the people to observe the welfare schemes being implemented by the Congress govt and support it in the upcoming local body elections. On the issue of Bhu Bharathi (land records), Ponguleti pointed out that during the previous govt farmers had to run from pillar to post for resolution of land issues. Now, revenue officials were proactively reaching out to the people to resolve their problems, he said.
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Indiramma Housing Scheme aims to fulfill dreams of all eligible poor people to own a house: Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy
The Indiramma housing programme is a continuous process aimed at fulfilling housing dreams of all eligible poor people in a phased manner across the State, said Minister for Revenue, Housing and Information and Public Relations Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. Despite financial constraints, the People's Government (Congress government) has allocated ₹22,500 crore for the first phase of the Indiramma Housing Scheme this year, he said. He was speaking after handing over sanction letters to the beneficiaries of the Indiramma Housing Scheme under Edulapuram municipal limits in Khammam on Wednesday. As many as 3,500 houses are being sanctioned to each Assembly Constituency in the first phase of the scheme. Additionally, houses are being allocated to Chenchus (one of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) in a saturation mode. The Minister asserted that the houses are being sanctioned in a transparent manner to deliver the benefits to the deserving poor people. Our government is working with resolute commitment for the welfare of poor and marginalised sections of the society, he said, adding that it was the aim of the Congress government to construct 20 lakh Indiramma houses to fulfill the dreams of all homeless poor people to own a house in a phased manner. The BRS government belied the aspirations of homeless poor people by depriving them of a roof over their heads during its nearly 10-year rule, he charged. Khammam Collector Muzammil Khan and Commissioner of Police Sunil Dutt, among others were present. Later, the Minister laid foundation stones for various road works in Khammam rural mandal.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Harish Rao flays CM for making one more declaration without implementing previous ones
HYDERABAD Senior leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and former minister T. Harish Rao has criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for announcing Nallamala Declaration stating that the implementation of Rythu Declaration and BC Declaration made before the Assembly elections is incomplete and uncertain. Except for making such declarations with fanfare the Congress government had not made any sincere effort to implement them, Mr. Rao said in a statement on Monday after the Chief Minister's new announcement at Macharam village in Amrabad mandal in Nagarkurnool district. He sought to know why the Chief Minister, who would often claim himself as the son of Nallamala soil, did not allow the Chenchu tribes who went there to meet him. The arrest of Chenchus at the Chief Minister's programme was a reflection of his dictatorial attitude and there was no meaning in making the Nallamala Declaration after making the preventive arrests of Chenchus tribe leaders. 'Is it called praja palana,' the BRS leader sought to know. There was neither content nor context in the Chief Minister's speech except for attacking the rival party. He reminded the Chief Minister about the partial implementation of farm loan waiver, denial of investment support and the delay in procurement of paddy. The fate of ₹2,500 per month assistance to women under Mahalaxmi, enhanced Kalayana Lakshmi support with 10 gm gold in addition to ₹1 lakh financial assistance for the marriage of girls from poor families, the ₹5 lakh vidya bharosa card, two lakh jobs in the first year, denial of enhanced social security pensions and others. Coming to employees, the BRS leader said the State government staff were awaiting payment of dearness allowance dues, pay revision commission, retirement benefits (to retired employees), the waiting of RTC staff for their absorption by the government and the fate of six guarantees.
