Team Herald
PANJIM: With crores of rupees allocated for the welfare of tribal communities in various government departments under the tribal sub-plan remaining unutilised, Tribal Welfare Minister Govind Gaude has decided to re-appropriate the funds to the nodal department.
Gaude also expressed his displeasure towards the manner in which officials of the Tribal Department and other associate departments are functioning towards clearing issues like forest rights under Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. A meeting has been scheduled on January 31 to review the situation.
Speaking to media persons, Gaude said a lack of response from MLAs and panchayats has left funds for the welfare of the community being unutilised. “You just cannot blame the department alone. Yes, it is their responsibility to prepare a tribal sub-plan but at the same time the proposal has to come from local bodies and MLAs. But that is not happening. As a result funds remained unutilised,” he said.
“Hence, I have decided to re-appropriate those funds to the nodal department which is tribal welfare,” he said.
Responding to another question, Gaude said that directions have been issued to all the departments to clear the backlog of vacancies. Till the end of last financial year, 1200 posts were pending to be filled, he said.
“We have sought a report from the major departments on the backlog. We have issued necessary instructions to fill them. The problem was that last year no new vacancies were released,” he said.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), which was in Goa last week, had expressed dissatisfaction over the work done by Goa government for the welfare of the tribal community in the State.
