Objectives Photos Videos Community Register Sign In

Welcome to 'The Tribal Blood' blog

"In order to succeed, we tribals need a sense of self-efficacy, to struggle together with resilience to meet the inevitable obstacles and inequities of life. We should always remember that striving and struggle precede success, even in the dictionary."

Registered Members click here to Contribute articles.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Naxal threat fails to deter tribals

By B.V.S. Bhaskar

Gurthedu (East Godavari/Vizag Agency): Illiterate tribal people proved that ballot (now EVM) is powerful than bullet on Thursday, where first phase of election took place in Rampachodavaram Assembly segment. Particularly in Gurthedu, where no police or Revenue officials dared to cross Maredumilli till 2007 as the Maoists are active in this area.

But tribal and police are moving freely from last two years in this area, despite the movement of some group or other from the neighbouring Visakha, Orissa and Chhattisgarh borders.

Even now Maoists had called for a poll boycott, but the tribals took it casually. Only three gunmen with AK-47 at polling station and other special, greyhounds, striking forces in remote forest areas shows the sea change in this election compared to 2004 elections, where the security personnel outnumbered the voters.

Tribals in large numbers turned out to polling stations situated in Gurthedu, Daragadda (Irlavada), Bodlanka, Boduluru, Aaku Mamidikota, Maredumilli and Rampachodavaram from early morning on Thursday. It is like turning up to a wedding ceremony in one of their relative’s house. Tribal couple dressed in their best and with children came to polling booths.

Source: The Hindu

No comments:

The Tribal Life