Human Rights Forum criticises Anakapalle District Collector’s stand on tribal land possession

Human Rights Forum (HRF) has found fault with the stand taken by the Anakapalle District Collector in the report to the Lokayukta with regard to the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) of Kothaveedi village in Konam Revenue of Cheedikada mandal of the district.

The HRF said the Collector, based on the report by the RDO, Narsipatnam, has submitted a report to the Lokayukta that `the tribal people are in possession of the land, unless and until it is shown that their possession is legally valid by way of consent/permission/ a piece of evidentary document obtained from the owners of the land, their possession cannot be recognised and their claim from recording the possession of the subject land in their favour in revenue records / webland can not be considered.’

The HRF said Kothaveedhivillage is located in revenue Survey No. 289. The land in this survey number is being cultivated by Kondh Adivasi families of Kothaveedhi and Konda Dora Adivasis of neighbouring village Gunti.

“It is highly regrettable that the Revenue Department, endowed with the mandate to protect the Adivasis and prevent depredations of a land mafia hell-bent on stealing these lands and selling them in the real estate market thereby undermining the rights of Adivasis, has adopted such a position,’’ the HRF said.

The HRF demanded an enjoyment survey be conducted without further delay, determine who the actual cultivators are and the information be placed before the Lokayukta, CCLA and Director, Tribal Welfare.

“Since the land is in possession of and is being cultivated by Kondh and Konda Dora Adivasis, we demand that the ITDA Project Officer be appointed the inquiry officer. Appointing the PO, ITDA as the inquiry officer will be a sound decision in all respects, given that the State government has clarified that the Paderu ITDA will continue to be the ITDA for the Adivasis resident in the erstwhile Visakhapatnam district, though Kothaveedhi is presently located in the newly-created Anakapalli district,’’ Y. Rajesh, HRF A.P. State general secretary, and V.S. Krishna, HRF AP&TS Coordination Committee member, said.