Khammam (Telangana), May 31 (UNI) Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president and MLA Mahesh Kumar Goud said on Saturday that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was the first leader to recognise tribal hamlets (thandas) and settlements, laying the foundation for tribal welfare in India.
Addressing the Adivasi Training Classes Programme here, Goud highlighted the Congress' consistent efforts to uplift Adivasi communities through targeted support and welfare schemes.
He noted that Indira Gandhi introduced the Land Ceiling Act to empower tribal communities, while full implementation of the Act was achieved under former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. Goud added that successive Congress governments have amended laws to advance tribal welfare and development.
Criticising the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government, Goud accused it of neglecting the Adivasi population. In contrast, he said, the Congress government has introduced several landmark welfare initiatives, such as free bus travel for women and subsidised rice distribution.
Goud credited Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra for deepening the party’s understanding of the country's grassroots issues. He added that the caste census, a key part of Rahul Gandhi’s vision, has been successfully conducted in Telangana, thanks to the efforts of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and his cabinet.
Reaffirming the party’s commitment to the slogan "Jal, Jungle, Zameen" (Water, Forest, Land), Goud emphasised that the Congress government is actively working for the socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
He highlighted the launch of the Indira Solar-Giri Jal Vikasam scheme as a transformative step for tribal communities. Under the Recognition of Forest Rights (ROFR) Act, the Congress government has granted land ownership rights to 2.30 lakh tribal farmers over 6.69 lakh acres.
Goud accused the previous BRS regime of filing false cases against Adivasis fighting for their podu (forest) lands and failing to act on eligible ROFR claims.
UNI VV PRS