Cong leaders vow to work for upliftment of Scheduled Tribes

Cong leaders vow to work for upliftment of Scheduled Tribes
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, DEC 5
Congress leaders led by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Sunday pledged to work for the upliftment of the Scheduled Tribes and recalled the sacrifices made by the tribals for the progress and development of the state.
Be it Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, Panchayat Minister Babu Azgaonkar, Water Resources Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik, Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar and Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, they all vowed to work towards the upliftment of the Scheduled Tribes, the poor and the downtrodden.
At an impressive convention of the Scheduled Tribes organized by the Original Goans Scheduled Tribes Association at Curtorim on Sunday, the Congress leaders showered praises on the Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco for holding the grand ST convention for the third successive year for the benefit of the Scheduled Tribes.
Asserting that his government will not tolerate any injustice to the ST communities, Kamat said his government has sanctioned Rs five crore to the ST Corporation to work out schemes for the benefit of the community. “My government will not allow any injustice to the ST community. There will not be any dearth of money for schemes meant for the ST Community”, he said, while complimenting Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco for organizing the convention for the third successive year.
On the demand made by Quepem MLA Babu Kawlekar for inclusion of Dhangar community in the ST community, the Chief Minister said though Dhangars have not been included in the ST list, his government will treat the community on par with the STs and recalled the special financial provision of Rs crore made for the welfare of the Dhangars.
Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik said the Scheduled Tribes are entitled to plots under the Scheduled Tribes Forest Right Act which has been brought into force by the Congress government. “The Congress has always fought for the rights of the Scheduled Tribes. Don’t be swayed by false promises made by other political parties”, he said, and promised to raise up the issue of inclusion of Dhangar community in the ST list in Parliament.
In his address, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, urged the ST community to avail of the various schemes under the Rural Development Agency. Alemao recalled the sacrifices made by the Scheduled Tribes to build today’s Goa and assured his full support for the upliftment of the community.
Water Resources Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues said the ST community has been responsible for the progress and development of the state. “Your contribution and sacrifices towards the development of the state cannot be forgotten. We are committed towards your welfare and progress”, he added.
Panchayat Minister Babu Azgaonkar said that the Congress would win minimum of 30 seats in the next Assembly polls because of the all round development work undertaken across the state.
He appealed to the people of Curtorim to stand by MLA Reginaldo Lourenco for taking up the cause of the STs and downtrodden during his short tenure. “He may belong to the upper caste, but his work shows his commitment for the downtrodden”, he added.
In his address, GPCC general secretary Vijay Sardessai said that credit goes to the Curtorim MLA for holding the ST convention not with an eye on the polls, but with the sole objective to uplift the poor and the downtrodden by taking the schemes to the doors steps of the Schedule Tribes.
Lourenco, in his address, urged the ST community to avail the various schemes meant for the community and vowed to take various schemes to the door steps of the people. He also promised to provide all schemes and facilities to boost agricultural production.
In his welcome address, President of the Original Scheduled Tribes Association Joseph Vaz said the Congress government has come out with a host of schemes for the benefit of the Scheduled Tribes, but added that much more needs to be done for the upliftment of the community. He praised the Curtorim MLA for his support and assistance for the welfare of the ST community.