MARGAO, MARCH 12: The United Tribal Alliance Association (UTAA) has urged Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat to fulfill the 12 point charter of demands of the Scheduled Tribes in the coming budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
Association President Prakash Velip further demanded that the government allocate 12 per cent of the budgetary funds to the tribal sub plan for the benefit of the tribal population.
Briefing newsmen, Velip has called for the implementation of the Central Tribal Forest Act in the state and also declare scheduled areas in the state.
“The Assembly Session begins later this month and UTAA demands that the Chief Minister fulfill the charter of demands of the ST Community”, Velip demanded.
H further demanded that the government work towards the direction of reserving 12 per cent of the seats in the Legislative Assembly to the Scheduled Tribes
Saying that the Goa government has till date not implemented the Tribal Forest Act and has not declared the Scheduled Areas, Velip said the government can receive grants for the development of the Scheduled Tribes once the Scheduled Areas are declared.
Saying that the benefits of the schemes meant for the general category such as the DSSS scheme be extended to the ST community, Velip said the DSSS paid to the ST beneficiaries ought to be double than the amount received by the general category.
Similarly, he demanded that the government should provide Rs one lakh for Self Help Groups formed by the ST communities as against Rs 25,000 provided to the general category.
On the Cavrem mining row, Velip said Cavrem village comprises of 100 per cent population of the scheduled Tribes, adding that UTAA has decided to extend all out support to the agitating villagers under the banner of Cavrem Bachao samiti.
He has also demanded a hike in the support price for paddy to Rs 20 and reservation of seats for ST communities in higher education.
“We have reminded the Chief Minister to implement the 12-point charter of demands in the Budget session of the Assembly”, he said and warned that the ongoing agitation will be intensified from April if things does not move in the right direction.
