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Andhra tribals seek permission to sell children

Hyderabad: The harsh drought in many parts of India has forced farmers either to flee to cities or resort to distress sale of their cattle. But in a tribal hamlet in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh, from where the Late Indira Gandhi once stood for election, people have sought permission to sell their children to tide over the crisis.

The tribals of Palugu Tanda under Narayanakhed mandal have petitioned the State Government and the State Human Rights Commission seeking permission to sell their children as the drought has rendered them jobless and penniless.

The tribals in the backward region met recently and adopted a unanimous resolution to this effect.

The Congress-led administration of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was shocked to hear of the resolution. Medak district was once considered a high profile constituency as former prime minister Indira Gandhi stood and won a crucial election from here.

The YSR administration has rushed Mandal Revenue Officer M Sujanamma to the hamlet with the assurance that the people in the hamlet will get work by August 24.

Palugu Tanda has 70 families and 128 members. Twenty other families who had migrated to Hyderabad have also returned to the village.

Medak is a traditionally receives scanty rainfall. But that too did not materialise this year and the crops have dried up. There is no water or fodder for their livestock.

The people are now waiting for August 24, not for rains, but for the promised work.

Source: India Syndicate