Hyderabad, June 19: Minister for Information J. Geeta Reddy and Minister for Minor Irrigation V. Sunita Lakshma Reddy on Thursday called up on the tribals to use the land for improving financial conditions.
Addressing a gathering after handing over pattadar passbooks to tribals who are cultivating the government land at meeting held at Zilla Parishad meeting hall, Ms. Geeta Reddy said that after conferring the right on the land they have been tilling, the tribals can now get bank loans for better farming practices.
“You cannot sell the land but it can be inherited to next generations. In addition, small and medium water sources will be developed to cultivate these lands,” she said.
Sunita Lakshma Reddy described handing over pattas as festival to tandas. “Tribals can develop their farm land by working under NREGS and can also get wages for working in their farm,” she said. The Minister also promised to supply drip irrigation system to tribals so that land can be cultivated with less water. Narayanakhed MLA P. Kishta Reddy opined that there was a need to identify barren land under the Forest Department which can be cultivated by tribals.
Right of ownership over 2,019 acres in Medak district was accorded to the tribals. ZP Chairman M. Balaiah, MLA T. Nandeeswar Goud Collector Peeyush Kumar, Tribal Welfare Officer Chanchala Devi participated in the meeting.
–Agencies