RAMPACHODAVARAM: Tribes living in inaccessible high terrains of interior regions of agency region in East Godavari district were in a cheerful mood with the distribution of pattas under Recognition of Forest Rights Act. Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had launched patta distribution of under Forest Rights Act formally at Rampachodavaram two months ago.
Pallala Sitamma (70) of Kanivada village in Y Ramavaram mandal of East Godavari district was happy as her son got a patta for two acres of land in which he was doing ‘Podu’ (Shifting cultivation) at present. She said that the tribals were happy as they got pattas for their lands. It is said that the tribes used to get harassed for shifting cultivation by forest officials as they did not have necessary
land documents.
Speaking to the Express, she said that the tribals were also happy as they were getting money to develop their own lands under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). “We got power supply also.
What else do we need except a road connecting the village and the main land,” she added. She said the villagers were forced to walk nearly twelve kilometres in the forest to reach a weekly shandy at Banda to purchase essential commodities.
Village Sarpanch Kondla Bapoireddy, said that he possessed 4.78 acers of
land and received pattas from the ITDA officials. He said that all of the
33 families that stay in the village owned three to four acres of land adding
that he would go for rubber plantation in two acres of his land and
would get payment from the ITDA officials under NREGS programme.
The ITDA officials, led by Project officer Yogita Rana, initiated efforts
and formed 120 forest right committees in all gram panchayats.
They distributed pattas for 27,000 acres in agency region of East Godavari
district and allotted Rs 5,000 per acre for the land development. Appeals
for allotment of land to an extent of 2,000 acres was under process.
Speaking to Express Rana said that pattas were distributed for 2.9 lakh
acres of land under community claims. She said that a road was sanctioned
for Kanivada and the work would start within a fortnight under NREGS.