Kondareddy tribals to vote for first time in inaccessible hamlets

Hundreds of Kondareddy and Koya tribes are ready with bated breath to vote for the first time in their very own hamlets of Perantallapalli, Kakisanuru and Tekupalli in Koida gram panchayat of West Godavari Agency space, on February 17.

For the final 50 years, the tribes used to trek hillocks and cross the Godavari and attain Koida village to train their franchise.

Thanks to the State Election Commission (SEC) and the District Election Officer (DEO), Revu Mutyalaraju, who’s the District Collector, who determined to conduct polling in the third part of native physique polls in the inaccessible hamlets of Perantallapalli, Kakisanuru and Tekupalli, which have been additionally declared as extremist-affected areas.

“For many decades, we used to cast our votes during Assembly, MPTC and ZPTC and gram panchayat elections in Koida panchayat, under the jurisdiction of Khammam district. Now, for the first time, we will cast our votes in our villages during the ongoing gram panchayat elections,” the tribals stated.

600 voters

K.R. Puram Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Project Officer R.V. Suryanarayana stated that about 600 voters are there in the inaccessible in addition to extremist-affected polling stations. Tribals of the border villagers have to spend a day to train their franchise at Koida. Instead of troubling the villagers, preparations have been made to shift about 50 election workers and polling materials to the villages, stated Polavaram DSP K. Latha Kumari.

Mr. Suryanarayana, together with Ms. Latha Kumari, Velerupadu MRO Challanna Dora, MPDO Srihari, Tribal Welfare APO Srinivas Rao and different officers visited the polling cubicles and enquired in regards to the amenities in Peraltallapalli village on Monday.

“After discussing the issue with the ITDA, the SEC and the District Collector, decided to conduct elections in Perantallapalli, Kakisanuru and Tekupalli villages by making necessary arrangements to the polling staff in the habitations,” the ITDA PO informed The Puucho on Monday.

Forces deployed

West Godavari Superintendent of Police (SP) K. Narayan Naik stated safety has been beefed up alongside the A.P.-Telangana borders in coordination with the police of the neighbouring State. Area domination, CRPF firms and APSP platoons have been deployed, the SP stated.

“Police took the inaccessible habitations into their control and villagers can exercise their franchise without any fear. All arrangements have been made for counting at Koida village,” Mr. Narayan Naik stated.

“Hitherto, hundreds of Kondareddy and Koya tribes have to travel about 35 km on the Godavari, along with children to exercise their ‘right to vote’ in Koida. They used to return at midnight by crossing dangerous spots in the river. Now, they will vote in their own hamlet,” stated a tribal lady Madakam Sonu.