"Impact Of Agrarian Struggles On The Tribal Development Of Telangana"

A Case Study of Tribal Areas of Adilabad district of A.P

Abstract

The present paper studies the problem of socio-economic conditions and exploitation of the people of the tribal areas of Adilabad District of North Telangana of Andhra Pradesh. It also discusses the agrarian struggles and how they have effected tribal development. The focus is mainly on the tribals. As a background the present study also deals with the peasant struggles in Telangana. The present study is a moderate attempt to analyse and understand agrarian system and the process of change, confining to a particular region and historical period, initiated by the state from above and reformative measures caused by the various agrarian struggles in the region. The period chosen for investigation is about 10 years i.e., 1981-1990.

India is essentially an agrarian economy with nearly more than seventy percent of her people living on agriculture and activities allied to it, and generating about twenty seven percent of national income. In this situation, naturally the land question becomes crucial in this country.  An important feature of studies on agrarian structure and relations is their marked indifference towards agrarian movements. Today, it is impossible to discuss the dynamics of socio-economic and political changes in developing countries without including a careful analysis of the history and progress of peasant movements. In almost all the developing countries the bulk of the labour force for many centuries has been from agriculture.

Agrarian change, reform, revolution are primary concepts which were generally used in the studies on agrarian relations and transformation. In the process of agrarian change, both the process like reform and revolution are two sides of the same coin and closely interrelated and mutually dependent and context sensitive.

The first tribal rebellion occurred in 1940 in Babijheri area (Adilabad district of Telangana region when Komaram Bheemu along with eleven of his followers were killed by Nizam police at Jodeghat. Five years later, the Nizam Government appointed Prof. Haimendorf as adviser under whose guidance various measures like distribution of land, starting of education scheme, and protective regulation etc., were taken up.

In Adilabad (Telangana Region) the struggle started over the exploitation of tribals by money-lenders. The tribals were also exploited by forest officials, either when they are practicing Podu Cultivation or when they are collecting minor forest produce from the forest. There were many struggles over the land alienation of non-tribals in some parts of Adilabad tribal area (Utnoor) and in all these struggles the tribal peasant could succeed in getting back their land to a certain extent. While the main struggle was directed against economic injustices, the outward manifestation of the struggle had been against social oppression. In the process of peasant movements during early 1980's they had some gains. After the social boycott practiced against the landlords, untouchability had been eradicated to a greater extent.

Last but not the least are the excesses committed by police, excise and revenue officials in tribal areas such as burning of villages, destroying tribal assets, raping of tribal women, bonded labourer in armed outposts, taking away goats, foils etc.

The Integrated Tribal Development Agency (IITDA) programme is an important exercise in planning the development of the region .The regional planning and development that is being attempted is expected to result in the development of a special pattern of human activities which may lead to an autonomous process of socio-economic change.