TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Goa government will begin the exercise of identifying tribal villages in Goa to ensure that schemes reach out to all of them. These areas will be notified by December-end.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar made this announcement in House, Wednesday. “There are areas after areas which were granted money under the tribal schemes but these are not identified as tribal areas. The identification will begin and notified by December-end,” he said.
Parrikar also objected to Congress MLA Pandurang Madkaikar’s allegations that government’s schemes were not original, when Tribal Welfare Minister Ramesh Tawadkar listed out a number of benefits for the community. Madkaikar went on to say that Tribal Department was started during the Congress regime.
Parrikar intervened in the discussion saying the department became functional only during the BJP rule. “It was started by the Congress but was it functional? There was only a notification issued about setting up the department,” he said.
Tawadkar, who spoke for about 45 minutes on the portfolio, said he was hurt by Madkaikar’s series of allegations in the House about neglecting this department.
“I am hurt…” he said after speaking at length about the schemes the government has launched for the tribal community including in the education sector, and the fast delivery of benefits.
He also stated that several proposals under the schemes have also been cleared.
Madkaikar had demanded the minister’s resignation for failing to be the ST leader during demands for grants on tribal welfare. Tawadkar shot back at the Madkaikar asking him why he was deprived of the portfolio during the Congress regime.
“You was the social welfare minister from 2006-08 after which it was given to Filip Neri Rodrigues. In 2010, Tribal Ministry was formed….who never did anything during his tenure, he has no right to criticize me,” Tawadkar added.
