The tribal people of Pedapeta staged a protest demanding that they be given work, under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in their village, instead of providing them work at distant villages, at Pedapeta village of MK Patnam, of Rolugunta mandal in Anakapalli district on Thursday (January 30).
The villagers, led by Kula Vivaksha Porata Samithi (KVPS) district secretary E. Chiranjeevi, CPI(M) district secretariat member K. Govinda Rao, and local leaders Pothu Naidu, K. Srinu, Narasimha Murthy, Jhansi Kumari and P. Satyavathi paid floral tributes to a portrait of Gandhiji on his death anniversary, and prayed with folded hands to the people’s representatives through the Mahatma, seeking that they be provided work under MGNREGA, in their village.
The leaders said that there were 60 families living in Pedapeta, and they were issued ‘job cards’. But, no work has been given in their village, so far. Those who wish to get work have to trek 7 km to the panchayat headquarter at MK Patnam, and return to their village. They alleged that the officials have failed to take any action though several complaints were given to them in the past.
As they were not being given work, the tribal people are migrating to other States in search of work.
As many as 25 tribal families in the village are in possession of ‘jeerayathi’ lands and 12 of them have been given ROFR pattas. But, they are not being given work under the employment assurance scheme. The leaders warned that they would be forced to stage a protest with their tools, opposite the Collector’s office, if they were not given work in their village.
They prayed with folded hands in front of the portrait saying: “O Mahatma, we do not have work under the scheme named after you. Please ensure that we are given work”. They also demanded issue of job cards to those who have not been given, so far.
Published – January 30, 2025 05:56 pm IST