The very basis for creation of new districts in the State of
Telangana is against the spirit of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of
India and deprives the right to self-rule of adivasis. The State Cabinet
approved the reorganization of districts and the official exercise has been
undertaken under the Andhra Pradesh District (Formation) Act, 1974. The very
object of this legislation was to ‘bring the revenue administration nearer to
the people and make all public services easily available to them’.
The thrust of official criteria is only the population and
geographical locations in order to see the access to the administrative headquarters. However,
this criteria deviates from the constitutional prescription for reorganisation
of villages covering both Scheduled Areas and Tribal Sub-Plan areas and
protection of tribal people in the State. At the time of devising and adopting
the strategy of Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) for socioeconomic development of
Scheduled Tribes during Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-79), certain areas besides
Scheduled Areas, were also found having preponderance of tribal population.
That was the reason for making the boundaries of the
Scheduled Areas co-terminus with the Tribal Sub-Plan areas in the country. In
view of this Clause (2) of the paragraph 6 of the Fifth Schedule was amended
through the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1976 to empower the President to
increase the area of any Scheduled Areas in any State. It may be pertinent
to note that the Bhuria Committee, constituted by Government of India in 1994,
suggesting appropriate framework for governance in the Scheduled Areas, recommended
self-autonomy to adivasis, by adopting the broad frame-design of autonomous
district councils contained in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Further, provisions of the landmark legislation ‘Panchayats
Extension to the Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act 1996’ also directs the State
Government to create suitably empowered tribal autonomous councils. The present
exercise for creation of districts and reorganisation of mandals is disturbing
the very fabric of the tribal societies in the agency tracts of Telangana and
completely nullifying their right to self determination and right to self rule
once for all.
Presently there are 1165 scheduled villages in Khammam,
Warangal, Adilabad and Mahaboobnagar districts in Telangana State. As part of
the rationalisation of Scheduled Areas, the undivided Andhra Pradesh government
proposed 247 villages for inclusion in the Scheduled Area of Telangana. The
proposal for inclusion in the scheduled area of Telangana was submitted by the
Government of AP before bifurcation of the State.
Due to formation of the State of Telangana the Government of India (vide F. No 18014/1/2014) directed the government of Telangana to submit the proposal in a revised format.
Due to formation of the State of Telangana the Government of India (vide F. No 18014/1/2014) directed the government of Telangana to submit the proposal in a revised format.
In accordance with the proposal, the Government of Telangana
approved the creation of two additional mandals and three villages in Khammam
district; seven additional sub-plan mandals covering 76 villages in Warangal
district, and 27 additional Mandals covering 164 villages in Adilabad district
besides two more additional mandals with four villages in Mahaboobnagar
district for inclusion in the scheduled area of Telangana State. This
proposal is at the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Suppressing all these approved proposals, the government is
now proposing to create new district Kothagudem in Khammam district,
Bhupalapalli and Mahaboobabad in Warangal district, Komaram Bhim district in
Adilabad districts Adivasis are apprehensive over disturbing the agency
tract of Asifabad, and those in other districts, where there is a predominant
presence of Adivasis. For instance the schedule areas of Asifabad revenue
division are being clubbed with the plain area of Manchiryal revenue division
in the name of the proposed new district Komaram Bhim.
Similarly, total schedule mandals and sub-plan mandals in
Khammam districts are being divided to become part of the proposed new district
Kothagudem and dominant non-agency tract of Mahaboobabad, Bhupalapalli
districts in Warangal districts. Therefore the Government of Telangana should
scrupulously follow the constitutional design for governance and administration
in the Scheduled Areas envisaged under Art 244 of the Constitution of India,
PESA Act and the approved proposals for inclusion of new mandals and villages
in the Scheduled Areas before reorganisation of districts in the State.
All the schedule mandals and dominant tribal populated
sub-plan mandals should be clubbed together to form new scheduled area
districts in Khammam, Warangal and Adilabad district after consulting the tribal
leaders and elected tribal representatives. Otherwise, the present
exercise would cause irreparable loss to adivasis and also deprive them of
their self-governance rights.
By Dr Palla Trinadha Rao
