Hyderabad, Mar 14 (UNI) The CPI(M) today staged a walkout in the Assembly protesting against the government for not paying suitable prices to tribals for their produce.

CPI(M) Floor Leader Nomula Narasimhaiah alleged that the government run Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) was buying Tamarind from the poor tribals for a paltry sum of Rs eight per Kg, when the market price was Rs 80 per Kg.

Later, Minister for Social Welfare S Redya Naik said the GCC offered a price of Rs 11 per Kg and sold it for a price ranging between Rs 14 and Rs 16 per Kg last year as there was a short fall in Tamarind production not only in Andhra Pradesh but also in neighbouring Chattisgarh and Orissa.

He said this year all the three states had good crop and if the state sold it for Rs 15 as demanded, the market would be flooded with Tamarinds, brought from Chattisgarh and Orissa benefitting the middlemen.

The Minister denied the allegation levelled by the CPI(M) Leader that the government was not providing any funds to the GCC and was exploiting the tribals.

He said the government had allocated Rs 159 crore to the GCC this year.

The government was trying to resolve all disputes pertaining to non-tribals buying tribal lands.

UNI