Naidu promises alternative to G.O. 3 to protect employment opportunities for tribal youth

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday said the State government was working on an alternative mechanism to protect employment opportunities for tribal youth following the striking down of G.O. No. 3, while setting a 2027 deadline for ensuring every tribal family in the State had access to safe drinking water and housing.

The GO No. 3, issued in 2000 to reserve 100% of teacher posts in the Scheduled Areas for the local tribal candidates, was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2020, prompting Mr. Naidu to explore a legally sustainable alternative to protect tribal youth employment.

The G.O. remained a major issue for tribal communities, with the tribal groups protesting its scrapping and demanding restoration of safeguards for local youth in government employment.

Addressing the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples programme at Ambedkar Kala Vedika here, Mr. Naidu said the coalition government was committed to protecting the rights and welfare of tribal communities and creating greater opportunities for their economic and social advancement.

Referring to G.O. No. 3, he said the government was examining alternatives to ensure that local tribal youth did not lose employment opportunities.

Mr. Naidu said ₹4,764 crore had been allocated for the comprehensive development of 27.39 lakh tribal people, with focus on infrastructure, livelihoods, employment and skill development through the Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs).

Kommu Koya tribal dancers from Tummala village of Chintoor Agency area performing a traditional dance to mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, in Vijayawada on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
G.N. RAO

The government was providing road connectivity to 2,336 tribal habitations on a mission mode and had laid 905 km of roads at a cost of ₹1,000 crore under the ‘Adivasi Talli Bata’ initiative.

It had set a 2027 target to provide safe drinking water and housing to every tribal family, besides promoting solar rooftop systems, improving healthcare and strengthening digital connectivity in remote areas.

To address healthcare challenges, feeder ambulances and ‘108’ and ‘104’ mobile medical units were being deployed to reduce the dependence on traditional ‘doli’ transport for carrying patients, he said.

The Chief Minister also stressed the need to increase tribal incomes through value addition, processing and branding of forest produce such as Seethampeta turmeric, Rampachodavaram rubber, Parvathipuram pineapple, honey and palm jaggery.

As many as 1.5 lakh tribal youth would be provided skill training, while special initiatives would be taken to prepare tribal students for competitive examinations. Nineteen MoUs signed during the programme were expected to benefit around 60,000 people, he said.

Referring to President Droupadi Murmu’s journey from a tribal woman to the country’s highest constitutional office, Mr. Naidu said it demonstrated the potential of tribal communities when opportunities were created while preserving their culture and traditions.

Calling upon tribal communities to turn their aspirations into action, he said individual achievements should contribute to nation-building. A farmer producing a better crop, a woman earning through self-employment, or a student, teacher, employee, entrepreneur, or worker performing their duties with dedication was also contributing to the nation.

Serving the nation did not necessarily mean fighting at the border, but could be achieved by every citizen through sincere work and contribution to society, he said, adding, “Adopt the spirit of ‘I, my country, my State, my village and my family’, and set personal goals aligned with the larger interests of society and the nation.”