Visakhapatnam: Two acts-El (Andhra) Legal Metrology Act 2009 and Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Areas Money Regulation Act 1960 lenders have been designed to protect the poor never performed in tribal areas district.

It is ironic that the Department of Legal Metrology organized awareness programs to educate wealthy consumers in urban Visakhapatnam on Wednesday to mark World Consumer Day, but decided not to make any effort in the tribal areas.

Come every harvest season non-tribal lenders and traders visit tribal villages with traditional measurement tools unauthorized and prohibited as "Kunchams." These measuring instruments were banned years ago and were never used in urban areas. But the tools were being indiscriminately used by lenders and traders to cheat poor tribal people. But government officials usually turn a blind eye to the practice.

"One of the reasons for poverty in the tribal area is the failure by officials to implement the Law on Legal Metrology Law and Regulation of creditors, '' said Ajay PS, a social worker who addressed several letters to the Government and collector here.

The Law Regulating lenders entered into force in 1960 but never used in district zones programmed according to information obtained from the Collector under RTI ACT.

The lenders, mostly non-tribal neighboring plains East Godavari district, are given free access to operate and exploit poor tribal peoples.

According to the Law, who wants to make money lending business in tribal areas must obtain permission from the collector. "But not a single lender obtains permission from the collector to the moment, '' he said.

Ajay said in regard to Aadhaar enrollment, despite order of the Supreme Court, the entire administration is pressuring tribes to Aadhar centers. At the same time he was asked a single tribal lender not register their names and obtain permits.

The ITDA also miserably failed to stop borrowing money in the tribal areas.