Kakinada’s Jana Sena Party MP, Tangella Uday Srinivas, has made a strong plea to Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram. He is pushing for the establishment of an Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) with its main office in Pedda Mallapuram, within the Prathipadu Assembly constituency. This vital initiative aims to serve 59 tribal villages across the Sankavaram, Prathipadu, Rowthulapudi, Yeleswaram, and Kotananduru Mandals of Kakinada district, which are home to approximately 18,440 people.
These 59 tribal communities have been tirelessly fighting for years to have their villages officially recognized as a 5th Schedule area under the Constitution of India, a designation that would unlock crucial legal entitlements and protections for them.
In his letter dated October 1, 2025, Mr. Uday Srinivas emphasized the urgent need for institutional backing for these villages. He stated, “The 59 tribal villages are desperately in need of comprehensive institutional support to foster their social and economic development. Without an ITDA, these communities are unfairly cut off from essential welfare funds, vital infrastructure, and much-needed livelihood opportunities.”
Adding significant weight to the proposal, Kakinada District Collector S. Shan Mohan officially recommended to the Andhra Pradesh State Government in September 2025 that an ITDA be established in Pedda Mallapuram.