The Times of India News Service

HYDERABAD: The Girijana Sanghala Ikkya Vedika on Friday said all the culprits involved in the adoption racket must be brought to book and given severe punishment.

In a memorandum submitted to Governor Dr C Rangarajan, the Vedika put forward several demands.

The Vedika is demanding separate councils for the tribals at the state and district levels which should be given monetary and regulatory powers and the State council should consist of ST MLAs, intellectuals and social activists. The district councils should comprise ZPTC and MPTC members and social activists, who should function under the authority of the district collector, the Vedika said.

The tribal body said the Lambada women should be provided employment as they were very good at embroidery work and for that workshops should be conducted at all mandal headquarters providing required facilities. Separate residential schools and colleges for the tribals must be set up to promote education and the government should take up literacy programme to educate lambada women, the Vedika said.

The memorandum also sought separate panchayats for tribal hamlets.

"The government must take necessary steps to eradicate superstitions among the lambadas," the memorandum said.