Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced a grant of Rs.50 lakh for conducting grand celebrations of the birth anniversary of Sant Sevalal Maharaj, the spiritual leader of the Banjara community in his birthplace Ramji Naik Tanda of Gooty Mandal, Anantapur district.

Speaking at an event marking the 288th birth anniversary of Sant Sevalal Maharaj,the CM emphasized his administration’s commitment to preserving the spiritual leader’s heritage. He highlighted how Sevalal’s ideologies of peace and social harmony predated Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of non-violence.

At his residence in Undavalli, the Chief Minister paid floral tributes to a portrait of Sant Sevalal, the revered spiritual leader of the Banjara community. He emphasized that Sevalal’s teachings and philosophies remain relevant today and serve as an inspiration for future generations. He stated that the state government has officially recognized Sevalal’s birth anniversary as a government event, reinforcing his legacy.

Reaffirming  his government’s commitment to eradicating poverty among tribal communities and protecting tribal rights, Chandrababu Naidu  highlighted his government's efforts to uplift tribal populations by providing economic opportunities and political representation.

He reassured the tribal communities of his government’s commitment to safeguarding their rights and welfare. “Inspired by Sant Sevalal, we are working to protect everyone’s sentiments while ensuring social development,” he said. He credited former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao for initiating significant welfare programs for tribal communities and promised to continue these efforts.

He emphasized the government’s focus on both hill-dwelling and plain-dwelling tribal groups, including the Yanadis, Banjaras, and Chenchus. He mentioned that the administration is implementing a ‘Zero Poverty Plan’ in tribal areas, along with special welfare schemes tailored to regions with high poverty rates.

Highlighting the TDP’s role in empowering tribal communities, Naidu stated that his party has played a crucial role in providing political opportunities to tribals and ensuring their economic upliftment. “In united Andhra Pradesh, we transformed tribal hamlets with a population of 500 into self-governing panchayats, granting them administrative powers. We also ensured political representation by appointing tribal leaders as MLAs and ministers,” he said.

Naidu recalled the TDP’s historical decision to appoint Chandu Lal from Warangal as the first-ever Banjara minister in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh government.