ACTION PLAN TO WEAN THE YERUKULAS OF STUVARTUPURAM AWAY FROM CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

Abstract

The Yerukula tribe was notified as Scheduled Tribe for the first time under the SCs and STs orders (Amendment) Act, 1956 in respect of Andhra Region. The Area restriction imposed in the said Act in respect of Yerukula tribe was removed and the Yerukulas throughout the State of Andhra Pradesh have been notified as Scheduled Tribes under the SCs and STs order (Amendment) Act 1976. Yerukulas were reported to be tradesman in selling salt, grain, turmeric, Curry leave etc. on their pack bullocks, donkeys and were leading nomadic life. In addition to this, the other source of livelihood was reported to be stealing, highway robbery, house breaking etc. The Yerukula women were engaged in sooth-saying and while doing so they gather the information for criminal activities of their man. The Salvation army as well as the Govt. attempted to control Criminal behaviour of settlers and reform them through several means like coercive, persuasive and rehabilitative. Accordingly, it is decided to take up ameliorative measures for all the poor families along with the families of surrendered criminals. For this purpose, socio-economic survey of all the Yerukula families residing at Stuvartpuram settlement is conducted in order to propose various measures for their socio-economic betterment with a view to wean them away from the criminal activities. The Stuvartpuram consists of 654 households of which 77% are headed by males and 23% by females. Of the 654 households only 27.8% are holding land and the rest 72.17% are landless. The household survey reveals that there are 215 educated unemployed youth in the settlement, the details of whom are given in the report. The report also discussed about the occupational pattern, education, housing details. On the basis of the household survey for assessing the socio-economic conditions of the 654 families, the poor families which are to be treated now through ameliorative measures are classified into three categories, details are mentioned in the report. The land-based activities, Irrigation, Training for Employment, Education, pension and other schemes measures are suggested for the socio-economic development of the Yerukulas of the settlement and priority is to be given to the families.