Tribal land must be protected: Rythu Coolie Sangham

Andhra Pradesh Rythu Coolie Sangham State Secretary Dantuluri Varma on Tuesday urged the government to take steps to protect tribal lands under the AP Scheduled Areas Land Transfer Regulation Act (also known as the 1/70 Act), claiming that influential people have jointly approached the Supreme Court of India for repeal of the historic Act.

Mr. Varma, former MLA of Kurupam Kolaka Lakshmana Murthy, along with association leaders and tribal people, held a protest rally in Parvatipuram seeking immediate government intervention to ensure continuation of the Act and protection of tribal lands.

Mr. Varma claimed that as many as 1,672 non-tribals had petitioned the Supreme Court to remove tribal lands from the fifth list of the Constitution and allow land transactions between tribals and non-tribals.

He urged the Union and State governments to take up the cause and request the apex court not to allow such petitions that would only benefit the corporate sector. Mr. Varma urged the government to enact a law to ensure livelihood opportunities of tribal people and youth in the society.

Association leaders V.Mutyalu, P.Srinunaidu, Monangi Bhaskar and others were present.