This analysis is based on the report "Ploughing through tribal sustenance" from The Hindu (January 19, 2026), focusing on the tribal land rights conflict in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh.
1. Headline & Source
Simple Headline: Tribal Land Alienation and the Conflict over Rights in Andhra Pradesh.
Newspaper & Date: The Hindu, January 19, 2026.
2. Why in News? (Context)
Incident: In December 2025, standing maize crops belonging to Koya tribal families in Inumuru village (Eluru district) were destroyed by revenue and police officials using tractors.
Conflict: The action was taken to enforce a "protection order" in favor of a non-tribal landlord, despite the land ownership dispute being sub judice (pending) in the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
Human Rights Concern: The destruction of crops has threatened the immediate food security and livelihood of nearly 60 tribal families.
3. Background & Static Portion
The Koya Tribe: An ancient tribe primarily found in the Godavari valley. They are known for their distinct culture and dependence on forest/agricultural land.
Constitutional Protection: The area falls under the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution (Article 244), which provides for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes.
Legal Framework:
APSALT Regulation, 1959: The Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Areas Land Transfer Regulation prohibits the transfer of land from tribals to non-tribals.
Regulation 1 of 1970: A landmark amendment that mandates a legal presumption that all land in Scheduled Areas belongs to tribals unless the non-tribal claimant can prove otherwise with valid documents prior to the regulation.
Historical Context: Tribals allege that non-tribal settlers historically grabbed land by exploiting their ignorance, often "buying" vast tracts for trivial items like salt, tobacco, or dry fish (uppu sepa).
4. Key Facts & Data (Prelims Focus)
Location: Inumuru hamlet, Antarvedigudem panchayat, Eluru district (Agency Area).
Legal Presumption: Under AP's tribal land laws, the "burden of proof" lies on the non-tribal to prove the land is not tribal.
The "Adangal": This is a critical village land record in Andhra Pradesh that maintains details of land ownership and cultivation; tribals allege these have been tampered with online.
L.T.R. Cases: Land Transfer Regulation cases are the primary legal battleground for tribal land restoration in AP and Telangana.
5. Significance & Impact (Mains Focus)
On Governance: Highlights the friction between the executive (Tahsildars/Police) and the judiciary. Acting on a case that is sub judice undermines judicial authority.
Socio-Economic Impact: Land is the only asset for tribals. Dispossession leads to "proletarianization" (turning owners into daily-wage laborers) and fuels migration.
Internal Security: Historically, tribal land alienation has been a primary driver of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in the "Red Corridor."
Stakeholders: Koya tribal families, Revenue Department, AP High Court, Non-tribal landholders, and local political leadership.
6. Arguments / Issues Involved
The "Record" Issue: Non-tribals often possess "Settlement Pattas" (land titles). Tribals argue these were obtained through fraud or by manipulating the digital Webland portal.
Administrative Overreach: While the District Collector is the designated authority in Scheduled Areas, tribespeople allege that junior officials (Tahsildars/RDOs) issue "protection orders" to favor influential non-tribals.
Ethical Issue: The destruction of standing crops is a violation of the Right to Life (Article 21). Even if an eviction is legal, destroying food sources is considered an inhumane enforcement tactic.
7. Government Initiatives & Way Forward
PESA Act, 1996: The Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act empowers Gram Sabhas to prevent land alienation. This power must be strictly enforced.
FRA 2006: The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act should be used to provide individual and community titles.
Xaxa Committee Recommendations: The 2014 committee suggested that the state should act as a "trustee" of tribal land and recommended a strict review of all land transfers in Scheduled Areas.
Way Forward:
Digital Audit: A transparent audit of online land records in Scheduled Areas.
Judicial Fast-tracking: Special courts for LTR cases to prevent decades-long litigation.
No Crop Destruction: A policy ban on destroying standing crops during land disputes.
8. UPSC Syllabus Mapping
GS Paper I: Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism (Tribal issues).
GS Paper II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; Laws and institutions for the protection of STs; Fifth Schedule.
GS Paper III: Land Reforms in India; Internal Security (LWE).
9. Previous Year UPSC Questions (PYQs)
"The local self-government system in India has not proved to be a very effective instrument of governance." (Context: Why PESA fails to protect tribal land).
"Critically examine the role of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 in the context of tribal land rights." (2018).
10. Probable UPSC Questions
Prelims MCQ:
Which regulation in India provides a legal presumption that all land in a Scheduled Area belongs to the Scheduled Tribes?
The Koya tribe is predominantly found in which river basin? (Ans: Godavari).
Mains Questions:
"Despite stringent Land Transfer Regulations (LTR), tribal land alienation remains a persistent challenge in Fifth Schedule areas." Discuss the legal and administrative loopholes. (15 Marks)
"The destruction of standing crops by state machinery in land disputes raises significant ethical and human rights concerns." Comment in the light of the Right to Life. (10 Marks)
One-Page Exam Ready Summary
Context: Koya tribals in Eluru (AP) faced crop destruction by officials over a land dispute with non-tribals.
Legal Core: Regulation 1 of 1970 (AP) prohibits land transfer to non-tribals and presumes land is tribal-owned.
Key Conflict: Pendency in High Court (sub judice) vs. Executive enforcement using "protection orders."
Social Reality: Historical dispossession through "salt-for-land" trades has evolved into modern "record-for-land" manipulation.
Solution: Empower Gram Sabhas (PESA), audit digital records, and ensure state adherence to the Fifth Schedule spirit.
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