Andhra Government Initiates High-Level Review of Fifth Schedule Protections for Tribals
Ministers V. Anitha and Gummadi Sandhya Rani met with tribal leaders in Paderu to address concerns over land transfer regulations and constitutional rights. A new inter-district committee of officials will evaluate legal feedback before the state finalizes its policy response.
State Leadership Convenes Multi-Sectoral Dialogue in Paderu
In a direct attempt to address long-standing grievances regarding indigenous rights, Home Minister V. Anitha and Tribal Welfare Minister Gummadi Sandhya Rani convened a strategic summit at Paderu in the Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district on Tuesday. The session served as a platform for tribal association heads, legal specialists, and public representatives to detail their objections and proposals regarding the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Central to the discussions were the local ramifications of G.O. Ms. No. 3 and the AP Scheduled Areas Land Transfer Regulation, 1959 (Regulation I of 1970).
Proposed High-Level Committee to Examine Legal Frameworks
Minister Sandhya Rani affirmed that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s administration maintains a firm stance on protecting tribal entitlements. She stated that any forthcoming executive decisions would only follow exhaustive legal scrutiny and comprehensive analysis of constitutional protections. To facilitate this, the government announced the formation of a high-level committee tasked with synthesizing regional feedback. This body will include:
- Collectors and Superintendents of Police from the ASR district
- Administrative and security heads from Polavaram
- Officials representing Parvathipuram Manyam
This committee is mandated to evaluate the intersection of administrative logistics and legal expert opinions before delivering a formal report to the state government.
Broad Representation and District Oversight
The meeting saw extensive participation from various stakeholders, signaling the weight of the land transfer issues in the region. Notable administrative figures in attendance included ASR District Collector T. Nishanthi, Joint Collector T. Sripooja, and SP Amit Bardar. They were joined by Polavaram Collector K. Dinesh Kumar and a significant assembly of community leaders intent on ensuring that Scheduled Area regulations are enforced without dilution. The government’s next steps depend on how the findings of this inter-district panel align with the existing 1970 land regulations.
Source: The Hindu — Cities
