At a video conference, chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy made it clear that implementation of the decision of Government of India should be taken up immediately and none of the officers working in tribal areas and involved in the process of issuing pattas should either be transferred or granted leave. Those who achieve the targets will also be given state level awards, he said.
The idea is that apart from helping Girijans to earn additional income of about Rs 8,000 per year, it would also help in protecting the forests and put a check on illegal felling of trees. Since it would take some time for the fruit bearing trees to give returns, the government would also give them cash doles under national rural employment guarantee scheme.
He asked the collectors to find out if there was need for construction of percolation tanks to supply water in these areas. The district authorities have been asked to dig borewells or provide drip irrigation wherever possible, and also to provide motors and pump sets. The CM said the government would bear its expenditure. He also asked the district administration to encourage the tribals to go in for goat rearing and dairy farming through stall feeding.