Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday said his coalition government is working to ensure that every tribal family in the State has access to safe drinking water and housing by 2027, and outlined measures to improve healthcare and digital connectivity in remote tribal areas.
Targeted services for remote communities
Addressing a function to mark the International Day of Tribals at Ambedkar Kala Vedika in Vijayawada, the Chief Minister described a package of interventions aimed at reducing the hardships faced by tribal communities living in inaccessible locations. According to a government release, the State has deployed feeder ambulances and the 108 and 104 mobile medical units to reduce reliance on traditional means of transporting patients, such as carrying them in dolis.
Naidu also said the administration has initiated the installation of cell towers in tribal regions to bolster digital connectivity, which officials say will facilitate access to emergency services, telemedicine and educational resources.
Funding and scope
The Chief Minister said the government has allocated ₹4,764 crore for the integrated development of the State's tribal population, identified as 27.39 lakh people. Special emphasis, he added, is being given to programmes under the Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) to lift living standards and expand access to basic amenities.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Budget allocation | ₹4,764 crore |
| Tribal population covered | 27.39 lakh |
| Target year for water & housing | 2027 |
Call for self-reliance and contribution
Speaking at the event, Naidu urged tribal citizens to convert their aspirations into concrete action and to see individual success as part of nation-building. He referenced President Droupadi Murmu as an example, recalling her journey from a tribal background to the nation's highest constitutional office as inspirational.
"Every person who works sincerely is an asset to society,"
The Chief Minister framed multiple forms of individual endeavour — from improved agricultural yields by tribal farmers to women earning incomes through self-employment, and students, teachers and entrepreneurs delivering excellence — as contributions to the country ahead of Independence Day.
Officials' approach and programme focus
According to the release, the State government has prioritised the following areas through ITDAs and allied schemes:
- Provision of safe drinking water and permanent housing for tribal families by 2027.
- Enhanced primary healthcare access via feeder ambulances and mobile medical units (108/104).
- Strengthening digital connectivity through the establishment of cell towers in tribal regions.
The release did not provide a district-wise breakdown of the housing or water targets, nor a timetable for the roll-out of the cell towers and additional health units. Officials at the State secretariat and ITDA offices were not quoted in the statement beyond the summary of the Chief Minister's address.
Context and possible impact
The commitments come at a time when governments across India are under scrutiny to close service-delivery gaps in remote and forested habitations. Improved water and housing infrastructure, together with better healthcare access and mobile connectivity, are likely to affect daily life, emergency response times and economic opportunities for many tribal households in Andhra Pradesh.
How the pledged funds will be apportioned among different schemes, districts and beneficiary households, and the administrative steps to monitor progress toward the 2027 target, remain to be detailed by the government. The Integrated Tribal Development Agencies will be the primary implementing bodies for the stated priorities, the release said.
Naidu's remarks at the Vijayawada event underlined the administration's stated intent to combine welfare measures with efforts to encourage self-employment and education among tribal communities, while urging citizens to reflect on personal contributions to society in the run-up to Independence Day.
