Ex-Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao calls for protecting tribal rights

HYDERABADExtending greetings on the occasion of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, former Maharashtra Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao urged governments to focus on the welfare, rights, and development of tribal communities and warned that continued neglect of tribal issues could lead to growing unrest in tribal regions.In a statement issued here on Saturday, Mr. Rao said modern-day rulers have largely forgotten the concerns of indigenous communities and stressed the need for practical and effective policies to address their problems. He noted that the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides special protections for tribal areas, must be implemented in both Telugu States in its true spirit.Mr. Rao said the contributions of noted anthropologist Christoph von Furer-Hai