Tribals take out a rally on horses seeking road to their hamlets

The lack of a motorable road to their hamlets is forcing persons belonging to particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) of Pasuvulabanda village of V. Madugula mandal in Anakapalli district to carry pregnant women and sick persons in ‘dolis’ and trek for 3 km to the nearest road point.

The tribals took out a rally on horseback on Friday (January 23), carrying banners and raising slogans demanding construction of roads to their hamlets, from Pasuvulabanda to Bandaru Road.

Some 120 persons, belonging to 21 PVTG families, were living in Jeelugulova, Sompurambanda and Somulammakonda of Cheemalapadu panchayat in Ravikamatham mandal. Sidiri Venkata Rao and Korra Babu Rao had died due to ill-health in the past as timely medical aid could not be provided to them due to lack of road connectivity. Pregnant women and sick persons have to be carried in dolis for 3 km to the road point up and down the hill, and from there to the Kothakota PHC.

The tribal people said that after the Alliance government came to power, electricity was provided to the hamlets but road connectivity continues to elude them. After a plea to the Anakapalli Collector, the Panchayat Raj Department prepared estimates for construction of a metal road from Jeelugulova to Pasuvulabanda at an estimated cost of ₹2.10 crore. But, the road has not been sanctioned till date, forcing them carry the sick in dolis.

They are also forced to collect their monthly rations like rice and other essential commodities on horseback. They recalled that they had submitted their pleas to Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan and the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in the past, in this regard.

During the first phase of the ‘Palle Panduga’ programme on December 2, 2024, the road works between Arla and Pitrigedda, YB Patnam and Peda Garuvu via Lambasingi, and Z. Jogumpeta to Neredubanda were launched by Chodavaram MLA KSN Raju. The roads were formed but they were washed away by the rains and craters were formed on the unfinished roads subsequently.

The contractors had stopped the work halfway through as their bills were not paid. The tribal people demanded payment of bills and completion of the pending road works.

CPI-M district leader K. Govinda Rao, and PVTG leaders from Madugula constituency Sidiri Kameswara Rao, Korra Mahesh, Sidiri Rajababu and Korra Balaraju were among those who participated in the protest.