Will Andhra Pradesh CM Attend Tribal Day Celebrations?

Amaravati, Aug 8 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, is set to participate in the International Tribal Day festivities in Paderu, located within the Alluri Sitarama Raju district, this coming Saturday.

This year, the United Nations has designated the theme for International Tribal Day as "Indigenous Peoples and Artificial Intelligence – Defending Rights, Shaping the Future."

The Chief Minister will engage with tribal families to gain firsthand insights into their challenges. Following this, he will interact with coffee plantation growers and attend a public assembly at Lagisapalle. During the ceremony, the CM will initiate development projects in tribal regions, and agreements regarding these initiatives will be formalized.

The NDA government has implemented several measures aimed at the comprehensive development and welfare of tribal populations throughout the state.

The coalition administration asserts that it is dedicated to improving the living conditions of tribal communities in the agency districts. The government is making concerted efforts to bring agency regions up to the development standards of the plains.

For the fiscal year 2024-25, an allocation of Rs 7,557 crore has been made under the Scheduled Tribe Component. Furthermore, free electricity of up to 200 units monthly is supplied to 4.82 lakh tribal households statewide. Plans for solar rooftop installations in tribal areas are also in the pipeline.

The government has expedited road construction initiatives to link isolated tribal villages with key hubs and plain regions. An amount of Rs 2,404 crore has been earmarked for the development of roads and bridges, which will enhance connectivity for over 2,075 tribal villages within the next five years, according to an official statement.

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the administration has launched projects amounting to Rs 2,373 crore to ensure access to clean drinking water for 13,816 tribal habitations, with a target completion date set for 2026. In addition, multi-specialty hospitals are being established in ITDA regions such as Sitampeta, Parvatipuram, Rampachodavaram, K.R. Puram, and Srisailam, with Rs 50 crore allocated for each hospital. The medical college in Paderu is also progressing swiftly.

To assist tribal youth in preparation for competitive examinations, the government has set up study circles in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, and other locations. Residential school buildings are being repurposed into hostels with an investment of Rs 150 crore, benefiting over 520 schools.

Furthermore, the government is working to promote Araku coffee as an international brand by expanding plantations and establishing processing units, with an investment of Rs 202 crore. New tourism projects are being launched, directing job opportunities towards tribal youth.