Table of Contents
Relevance: APPSC Group I Paper III: Governance and welfare of tribal communities
Prelims
Alluri Sitarama Raju District, Chintapalli mandal, Scheduled Areas, Adivasis, weekly shandies, Fifth Schedule, PESA Act, 1996, Gram Sabha and Panchayat Raj Department
Mains
Last-mile connectivity, tribal development, community participation, infrastructure deficit, disaster-resilient construction, social inclusion, decentralised governance and administrative accountability
Why in News?
Nearly 100 Adivasis from eight villages constructed a 100-metre wooden bridge across a stream between Lothugedda and Boyapadu in Chintapalli mandal of Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama Raju district. The community acted after the earlier bridge, built by the Panchayat Raj Department, was washed away in 2024 and was not replaced.
Community Construction of the Bridge
Construction began on August 8, 2026, and was completed on August 15, when the villagers also celebrated Independence Day.
The participating villages were:
- Boyapadu
- Vanajajula
- Kappala
- K. Bennavaram
- Karakapalli
- Godugumamidi
- T. Korukonda
- Mulagondi
The community used timber collected from forest trees and contributed labour without spending money on construction. The completed structure can support pedestrians, motorcycles and autorickshaws.
A similar bridge built by Adivasis at T. Korukonda in the previous year was reported to be functioning despite exposure to seasonal weather.
Why was the Bridge Necessary?
The absence of a crossing created difficulties in accessing essential services.
- Children faced obstacles while travelling to school.
- Patients struggled to reach hospitals.
- Farmers and forest-dependent families could not easily transport produce.
- Residents faced difficulty reaching weekly tribal markets or shandies.
- Motorised transport between the villages remained disrupted.
The bridge therefore served as an essential communication link rather than merely a local convenience.
Wider Infrastructure Deficit
- The incident reflects the continuing shortage of all-weather roads, culverts and bridges in remote Agency areas.
- A culvert at Chinna Gangavaram in Darakonda panchayat of G.K. Veedhi mandal was recently washed away following heavy rain. Such failures show the vulnerability of local infrastructure to intense rainfall and stream flow.
Government records indicate that several works have been sanctioned in ASR district, including:
- A bridge between Jajigonda and Bodidevulu in Paderu
- A low-level causeway between Chamagedda and Nadimveedhi
- A four-vent slab culvert between Akuru and Badigunta
- A ₹1.89-crore bridge on the Ganugurolu–Bangarubudi road in G. Madugula mandal
The central governance issue is therefore timely execution, quality control and maintenance of sanctioned projects.
Constitutional
- Many tribal habitations in the district fall within Scheduled Areas governed by the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.
- Article 46 directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Tribes and protect them from social injustice and exploitation.
- The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, strengthens the role of Gram Sabhas in local planning and management of community resources. Tribal participation should therefore be incorporated into infrastructure planning rather than being limited to emergency self-help.
Conclusion
The wooden bridge reflects both the resilience of Adivasi communities and the continuing infrastructure gap in remote Agency areas. Tribal participation should complement, but cannot replace, the State’s responsibility to provide safe and reliable public infrastructure. Responsive administration and climate-resilient engineering are essential for inclusive regional development.
CARE MCQ
Q. With reference to tribal governance in India, consider the following statements:
- The Fifth Schedule deals with the administration of Scheduled Areas in States other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
- The PESA Act extends provisions relating to Panchayats to Scheduled Areas with suitable modifications.
- Article 46 directs the State to promote the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Tribes.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Statement-wise Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Scheduled Areas in most States are administered under the Fifth Schedule. Tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are primarily governed by the Sixth Schedule.
Statement 2 is correct: The PESA Act, 1996 extends Part IX of the Constitution to Fifth Schedule Areas with provisions recognising tribal customs and Gram Sabha powers.
Statement 3 is correct: Article 46 is a Directive Principle requiring special attention to the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and weaker sections.
FAQs
1. Where was the wooden bridge constructed?
It was constructed between Lothugedda and Boyapadu in Chintapalli mandal of ASR district.
2. Who constructed the bridge?
Nearly 100 Adivasis from eight neighbouring villages built it through voluntary labour.
3. How long is the bridge?
The wooden bridge is approximately 100 metres long.
4. Why was it constructed?
It restored access to schools, hospitals, markets and transport after the earlier bridge was washed away.
5. Which constitutional provision concerns Scheduled Areas?
The administration of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes is covered under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.
