Tribal land must be protected: Rythu Coolie Sangham
Tribal rights activists in Andhra Pradesh are protesting against a Supreme Court petition that seeks to repeal the 1/70 Act, which protects tribal land ownership. The Rythu Coolie Sangham is urging the government to intervene to prevent the transfer of tribal lands to non-tribals and corporate entities.
Why it matters
This reflects ongoing tensions between constitutional protections for indigenous communities and commercial land development interests.
Andhra Pradesh Rythu Coolie Sangham State secretary Dantuluri Varma on Tuesday urged the government to take steps to protect tribal lands under the AP Scheduled Areas Land Transfer Regulation Act- (also known as 1/70 Act), alleging that influential persons had jointly approached the Supreme Court of India to seek the repeal of the historic Act.
Along with former MLA of Kurupam Kolaka Lakshmana Murthy, association leaders and tribal people, Mr. Varma organised a protest rally in Parvatipuram seeking the government’s immediate attention to ensure the continuation of the Act and the protection of tribal lands.
Mr. Varma alleged that as many as 1,672 non tribals had filed a petition in the Supreme Court to free the tribal lands from the fifth schedule of the Constitution and allow lands transactions between tribals and non tribals.
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