VISAKAPATNAM: The United Tribal Union’s Struggle Organisation alleged that the tribals in the Agency areas of the district were being discriminated against in filling jobs in government departments including the ITDA by inducting non-tribals.

Addressing a mediapersons here on Wednesday, UTUSO convener S Prabhudas and co-convener Dharma Roy Killo regretted the injustice was being perpetrated on the hapless tribals who were the subject of upper caste bias.

They said the Centre and the State government framed certain laws to ensure the welfare of the tribals residing in the Scheduled areas of the state. But, the Tribal Welfare Department officials were abusing their powers to favour non-tribal candidates.

They alleged that irregular and illegitimate appointments and promotions were being made in the scheduled areas in contravention of the Government orders numbered 3, 73 and 275.

These orders stipulated that all vacancies in the education wing under the Tribal Welfare Department were to be filled only with tribals. But, in brazen violation of the rules, the posts were filled with non-tribals, who were also unduly promoted.

WORST CASE SCENARIO: Prabhudas and Roy said the situation was same in all the nine ITDA project areas in the state and the Visakhapatnam district held the worst case scenario.

Cancellation of illegal appointments and promotions, reversion of illegal non-tribal appointees and appointment of the kin of tribals on compassionate grounds were among their main demands.

AGENCY BANDH: The leaders said the tribals would hold talks with the concerned authorities on June 5. If the talks fail, they warned, they would embark on hunger strike from June 7 followed by a 48-hour bandh of the Paderu agency area.

UTUSO leaders Chenda Elia, Ch Bhaskar Rao Padal and others spoke.