ST panel urges Centre, states to take policy action for LWE-displaced Gottikoya tribals

New Delhi: The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has asked the Union Home Ministry and Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha to submit a detailed report on the status of the Gottikoya tribals, who were displaced from Chhattisgarh due to Maoist violence and are now reportedly living in neighbouring states in difficult conditions, excluded from social security benefits. According to tribal rights activists who have repeatedly raised the issue with the Commission and the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry, an estimated 50,000 tribals were displaced from Chhattisgarh due to Left-Wing Extremism. It recommended that the Union Home Affairs Ministry's secretary and the chief secretaries of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha be requested to attend a session before the Commission on December 9 and provide a comprehensive action taken report on the issue. Responding to a question by Congress MP Phulo Devi Netam, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey told the Rajya Sabha that the state government had organised teams to conduct surveys in the adjoining districts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to identify tribal families displaced from Chhattisgarh due to Left-Wing Extremism.