Integrated Development Plan for Konda Reddis of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

The Konda Reddis and their habitat remain backward and the development gap between Konda Reddis and the neighbouring other tribal groups in the area grows wider. It is to avoid such a situation and to bring these primitive people who have so far eluded development programmes into the main stream of integrated development, and to bridge the widening development of the Konda Reddi tribe is formulated for immediate implementation. The project area covers 413 villages and hamlets in the Districts of East Godavari, West Godavari and Khammam. Holistic studies of Konda Reddi villages conducted in 1977 to gain insights into their social, cultural and economic life of the Konda Reddi is discussed in this report. Development efforts were initiated in the tribal areas of the State in the Pre-Independence period, but those efforts were not intensive and integrated. After independence a team was constituted with subject matter specialists with Sri Malaippan as Chairman by the erstwhile Government of Madras to evolve suitable schemes for the development of tribals and tribal areas. The team submitted its report to Government in the year 1951 and suggested various schemes for amelioration of the socio-economic conditions of the tribals in the State. However, development work began with the inauguration of the Pre-extension Blocks under the Community Development Program. Tribal development programs were further fruitful in the second half of the Third Five Year Plan with the conversion of Panchayat Samiti into Tribal Development Blocks. Both the State Government and Central Government provided funds for the implementation of schemes for the development of tribals and tribal areas. Large amounts have been allocated from Community Development and Tribal Development funds for the implementation of various schemes under Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Education, Minor Irrigation, Medical and Health Programmes. During Third Five Year Plan an amount of Rs. 4.50 Lakhs was spent. A sum of Rs. 1. 12 Crores was spent in the project area of East Godavari District during Fourth Five Year Plan. Out of this an amount of Rs. 49.58 Lakhs was spent on establishment and Block Head Quarters while the remaining expenditure was incurred on development programmes. As a result of implementation of various development programmes, a network of development institutions has been formed in the project area of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency in East Godavari District. The plan for the development of Konda Reddi tribe is basically a peoples development plan with focus on development of individual as well as the tribe of Konda Reddi in the project area. In pursuance of objectives a plan with 5 years perspective has been drawn up at an estimated coast of Rs. 526.77 lakhs.