Tribals should be weaned from naxalism: Minister

Hyderabad, Aug 7 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Minister for Tribal Welfare Redya Naik today said all-round away development should be made in tribal areas to wean the people from insurgency and "activities like Salwa Judum".

Addressing a workshop on 'National Tribal Policy' organised by the Tribal Cultural Research and Training Institute here, he said tribals lacked educational and employment opportunities. As they were poor and unemployed, insurgents were attracting them to their ranks.

Mr Naik said there would be neither naxalism nor activities by organisations like the Salwa Judum, once tribals were provided education and employment. Several tribal villages still lacked basic minimum needs, he lamented.

The Centre should make a more detailed study and make the new 'National Tribal Policy' more vibrant to the needs of tribals.

Several speakers at the workshop said the new 'National Policy' had not shown how to check infiltration of non-tribals into tribal lands. They felt tribals should be given documents pertaining to their property to stop harassment by officials. Tribals were being persecuted for occupying their own land, they said, adding, the new draft was silent on the effect of globalisation on tribal culture.

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