Tribal Welfare Minister Pasupuleti Balaraju urged Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to issue bearer cheques for the compensatory amount to 32,000 tribal farmers who lost their crop due to the Nilam Cyclone.
In a letter to the Chief Minister on Thursday, the Minister said tribals could not open bank accounts due to non-existence of bank branches in nearby areas and inadequate staff even in existing branches. He wanted the Chief Minister to direct the revenue department to issue bearer cheques to 32,000 Girijan farmers.