CCSAP Report - Ministry of Home Affairs

7.9.14 Adivasis and the Manya Seema demand: The Adivasi tribals,
who after the 1976 inclusion of nomadic tribes in the ST list have been reduced
to a minority in the state, have raised several issues in their demand for a
separate tribal state, Manya Seema. The first is domination by non-tribals. They
argue that they have lost their culture, language, resources and self respect
because of non tribal rulers. Unless they are given strong protection, they will
continue to be ruthlessly exploited in united AP. They are unsure of the likelihood
of their prosperity in a separate Telangana state either. They feel that only a
separate tribal state, encompassing the contiguous stretch of tribal areas from
Srikakulam to Adilabad, can ensure their development. Also, special provisions
should be made for those tribals living in the non agency areas. 21 Secondly, if the
state is bifurcated, then many groups like Koyas, Kondareddys will be in danger
of becoming extinct due to the new geographical demarcations. The Koya tribe in
Khammam and Warangal explained that they have suffered earlier during the
reorganization of the states as they were split between four states, which
diminished their cultural and traditional unity. The situation of Adivasi Gonds is
also the same as after the reorganization they were divided between
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and AP. There is a demand that the agency areas
of AP inhabited by the tribals should be made into a separate state or a single
administrative zone. Thirdly, ”original” (or Adivasi) tribals have suffered from the
inclusion of other groups (nomadic tribes – Sugalis, Lambadas and others) into
the ST list who are procuring nearly ninety percent of the welfare
schemes/jobs/education and political positions. The latter are not recognized as
STs in other states, and to benefit from the reservation arrangement, they have
migrated into AP. This community is now posing a threat to the real Adivasi
tribals in questions of land, employment and reserved seats for MLAs and MPs.
21 The Girijana Samkshema Parishath (Khammam) has demanded a separate tribal state called
“Dandakaranya State” (covering parts of AP, Orissa and Chattisgarh) by unifying all the tribal
areas.
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