A District Collector’s name is usually found on government files, official orders and plaques. In Telangana’s Adilabad, however, it has found its way onto something far more personal — a tribal settlement.

The Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) Kolam families of Dahiguda, under Poppaldhari Gram Panchayat, have named their resettlement colony ‘Rajarshi Shahguda’ after Adilabad Collector Rajarshi Shah, acknowledging his role in helping them rebuild their lives.

Predominantly tribal district with history of LWE extremism

A gateway to south India, Adilabad is a predominantly tribal district in northern Telangana, sharing its borders with Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region to the north and Marathwada to the west. The district also has a long history of left-wing extremism.

No land to build Indiramma houses

The story began with a basic problem. The Kolam families in Daheguda, now Rajarshi Shahguda, had been allotted houses under the State government’s Indiramma housing scheme, but lacked land to build them. After the families approached Mr. Shah, a 2017-batch IAS officer, he stepped in to identify 17 government plots and issue pattas, enabling construction to begin. Three of the sanctioned houses have since been completed and inaugurated, giving the families a home of their own.

Moved by his efforts and the positive changes he brought to their lives, the tribal families chose to honour Mr. Shah by naming their hamlet after him. The villagers expressed happiness that, with the Collector’s special initiative, basic infrastructure and housing works had gained momentum in the hamlet.

People who receive a rare tribute

The gesture is also notable in a region where tribals have occasionally used place names to preserve the memory of those they credit with making a difference to their lives. In 2020, Thottie families in Chinchughat of Adilabad Rural mandal named their resettlement colony ‘Divyaguda’ after then Collector D. Divya, who had played a key role in securing land for the community.

Such community-led tributes remain rare. Even Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf, the Austrian anthropologist whose work among the Raj Gonds and other tribal communities in the region during the 1940s earned him a lasting place in the history of tribal studies in the erstwhile Adilabad, has only a street named after him at Marlavai village in present-day Kumram Bheem Asifabad district.

Resources the residents need

During the Gram Sabha organised on the occasion, Mr. Shah interacted with the tribal residents and enquired about their problems and requirements. He assured them that further measures would be taken for the development of the hamlet and announced the sanction of 10 more Indiramma Houses in the Pippaldhari Gram Panchayat area.

“To strengthen the economic condition of tribal families, the Collector announced the provision of goat and dairy buffalo units. He also assured free tailoring machine training for women and employment opportunities in Adilabad for local youth who have completed their degree education,” officials said.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Shah said the administration was working to address the basic needs of the Kolam families and improve their living conditions. “House sites have been allotted to the families and drinking water has been provided. Works relating to electricity and roads have also been sanctioned and will be completed in a time-bound manner. We are proposing to construct the sanctioned Indiramma houses using shear-wall technology after taking the beneficiaries into confidence,” he said.

He said efforts were also being made to improve connectivity and employment opportunities. “An additional bus trip is being provided from today to improve connectivity. We have also identified unemployed youth with intermediate and degree qualifications and will work to link them with local employment opportunities,” Mr. Shah said, adding that regarding similar demands in other tribal villages, district administration was proactively taking necessary steps to resolve issues – particularly related to Indiramma houses, drinking water, electricity and roads.

However, officials said that securing the requisite forest permissions and clearances for construction in the Tiger Reserve area remained the key challenge.

Published - August 17, 2026 01:13 pm IST