Prant Sammelan of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Andhra Pradesh (West) was organised at Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Warangal, on February 2. A total of 231 Vanvasi workers from nine districts of the Prant attended the Sammelan. Inaugurating the Sammelan Sri Sri Sangam Maharaj of Narayankhed said Bharat is a sacred country with rishi parampara. Shri Ramchandraiah, Dakshin Bharat organising secretary, said for a long time the Vanvasis are self-respected, self-oriented and active but due to some circumstances they became socially backward. Shri P. Lakshminarayana, state president, spoke about the different projects and the economic development of Vanvasis. Shri A. Shyamkumar, Sahprant Pracharak, spoke on the subject of freedom movement of 1857.
Shri A. Narayanadev, Sampark Pramukh of Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, explained the janjati and adivasi words. He also spoke about the formation of Neogi Commission and how the Christian missionaries are alienating the Vanvasis from their traditional culture.
After a thorough discussion, six resolutions were adopted on the Tribes and Forest Dwellers Right Act. The state government was requested to frame rules for the Panchayats. The state Act was demanded to be regulated to render justice to the girijans by establishing Government sponsored law agency and to fix minimum support price for the forest products.
A procession was also taken out through the busy streets of Warangal. The Vanvasis participated in the procession in their traditional dresses.
(FOC)
