AP Govt to give pattas to tribals by Oct: Minister

Hyderabad, Mar 18 (UNI) All eligible tribal families will be given ten acre each in Andhra Pradesh by October 30 as per the decision taken by the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre to provide title deeds to tribals, Tribal Welfare Minister Redya Naik said today.

Replying to the debate on the Demand for Grants for his Department, Mr Naik thanked UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for taking the ''historic decision.'' Right from Alluri Sitaramraju, who fought against the Britishers, tribals had been fighting to establish their right over forest lands, he recalled, adding title deeds for tribal lands would be provided to eligible tribal people by October 30.

The government had allocated Rs 20 crore for the purpose in this year's Budget, he said.

He also thanked the Chief Minister for announcing loan waivers of loans to the tune of Rs 145 crore secured by tribals from the state-owned corporation.

The government would set up six junior colleges in the tribal areas to check the high dropout rate among tribal students, he informed the members and urged the Opposition party members to withdraw as many as 57 cut motion moved by them and approve the demand for Rs 894.15 crore for his department.

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