Open special food stores for tribals, say activists

The food poisoning incident in East Godavari revealed the availability of cheap and low-quality food items, including groceries and others in agency areas.

People in the agency areas are forced to buy these items because of their low income and non-availability of quality food stuffs at affordable prices. The main villages and shandy markets have small kioks selling low - quality food items.

“The Guthi Koya community are mostly illiterate and financially backward and they can’t

● THE PEOPLE of Chinturu suffering from swollen legs due to adulterated food items. Cheap edible oil leads to health problems among the tribal people.

afford to buy branded food items,” said VR Puram sub-inspector B. Venkatesh.

Social activists suggested that the government open special stores in agencies for provision of quality food at reasonable prices. “There are some Girijan Cooperative stores in some of the areas. The government should extend those stores or set up special stores to sell essential commodities, including food items, to the tribal people at subsidised rates,” said Rights Watch (Andhra Pradesh) president Balu Akkisa.

The people of Chinturu suffering from swollen legs due to adulterated food items. Cheap edible oil leads to health problems among the tribal people. Akkisa said that there were more products, available in the agency area, which are procured by the tribal people and the government should take steps to provide reasonably priced items to them. food