Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), Aug 9 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday said every tribal family in the state would be provided safe drinking water and housing by 2027, reaffirming the NDA coalition’s commitment to their welfare and rights.
Addressing the World Tribal Day programme at Ambedkar Kala Vedika here, Naidu said tribal communities lived in harmony with nature while preserving their rich cultural heritage and traditions.
“Efforts are underway to provide every tribal family in the state with safe drinking water and housing by 2027, in line with the NDA coalition’s commitment to their welfare and rights,” he said.
The CM said feeder ambulances, along with 108 and 104 mobile medical units, had been deployed to ensure that people in remote tribal areas no longer had to rely on traditional methods of carrying patients in dolis.
Cell towers were being installed to improve digital connectivity in tribal regions, he said.
Naidu said the state government had allocated Rs 4,764 crore for the development of 27.3 lakh tribal people, with the Integrated Tribal Development Agencies focusing on infrastructure, employment, livelihoods and skill development.
He said road connectivity was being extended to 2,336 tribal habitations on a mission-mode basis. Under the ‘Adavi Talli Bata’ initiative, 905 km of roads had been laid at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore to improve connectivity in tribal areas.
Naidu said the government had laid the foundation for Araku Coffee as a major brand 25 years ago and that it had since grown into a global brand.
The government was encouraging coffee cultivation across another one lakh acres and working to develop agency areas as major hubs for commercial crops such as coffee, pepper and turmeric, he said.
The CM said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had helped promote Araku Coffee internationally by gifting it to the Australian Prime Minister.
The state government was presenting the coffee to visiting dignitaries and had set up an Araku Coffee stall in Parliament, he added.
Naidu said the government would add value to forest produce from tribal areas and support the entire chain from production and processing to branding and marketing.
He said products such as Seethampeta turmeric, Rampachodavaram rubber, Parvathipuram Manyam pineapple, honey and palm jaggery would be given greater focus on processing, branding and marketing to help tribal communities secure better returns.
He cited Droupadi Murmu’s journey from a tribal woman to a minister and governor in Odisha and eventually the President of India as an example of how determination and opportunity can help people rise to the highest positions.
Naidu said determination builds self-confidence and helps people scale greater heights, citing former President A P J Abdul Kalam, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N T Rama Rao and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as examples of leaders who rose from humble backgrounds.
He urged people to adopt the spirit of “I, my country, my state, my village and my family” and focus on what they could contribute to society and the nation.
The CM said serving the country did not necessarily mean fighting a war at the border. A tribal farmer who improved agricultural production or a woman earning a livelihood through self-employment was also contributing to the nation, he said.
“Whether a student, teacher, employee, businessman or labourer, everyone can contribute to the nation by working with dedication and to the best of their ability,” he said.
Naidu said people could contribute to society in various ways by protecting nature, preserving the environment and conserving water.
He said individuals, like states and countries, should have a vision for the future.
Naidu said PM Modi had articulated the Viksit Bharat (Developed India) vision, while he had outlined the 2047 Swarna Andhra (Golden Andhra) vision for the state.
The CM urged people to draw inspiration from the national flag while setting their goals, saying individual achievement was also part of nation-building and that serving society was the highest form of patriotism.
Naidu recalled that the international airport at Bhogapuram had been named after Manyam Veerudu Alluri Sitarama Raju in honour of the legendary freedom fighter.
He said a Dhimsa (tribal dance) performance at the airport’s inauguration had recently earned a Guinness World Record, bringing global recognition to the community’s cultural heritage.
Naidu highlighted the growing adoption of organic farming in tribal areas, saying farmers were cultivating valuable crops through sustainable practices.
The CM said 1.5 lakh tribal youth would receive skill training to improve their access to employment and livelihood opportunities.
Special efforts would be made to prepare tribal students for competitive examinations, he added.
He said 19 agreements signed on the occasion would benefit around 60,000 people and create new livelihood and development opportunities.
The government had established three districts with a focus on tribal communities, giving greater administrative priority to their development, he said.
Naidu said tribal regions, with their forests, lush greenery and natural landscapes, held significant tourism potential, adding that the government would promote tourism while ensuring that local communities benefited from the opportunities it created. PTI MS SSK
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