Team Herald
MARGAO: “This government gives equal importance to South Goa even though this district did not give us many MLAs in the ruling faction,” said Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar while inaugurating the Tribal Welfare Department office at the Old Collectorate building this morning.
The Tribal Welfare Department office headed by the deputy director will be fully empowered to process all schemes meant for tribal population and nearly 90 per cent of the work that used to be done at Panjim will be done at the Margao office, he said.
He said within the next six months, all government offices will have fully empowered offices in South Goa and hence the people will not have to travel to Panjim and this will ease the pressure on the offices in the State capital.
“Social welfare and agriculture related departments should have fully functional offices in South Goa,” he said and disclosed that shortly a passport office will also be opened at the Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex.
TCP Minister Vijai Sardessai said that the government was duty bound to take the 22 schemes meant for tribal community to their households and that Salcete and South Goa are equally important to the govt.
Tribal Welfare Minister Govind Gaude said implementation of the Tribal Forest Act was the government’s priority and while disclosing that a Forest Tribal Squad has been formed, he said by the end of the present year, all the rights envisaged under the law shall be given to the tribal population.
Pointing out that there is rich art and specially folk art amongst the tribal population of Goa, he said the government would form a Tribal Cultural Academy very soon.
Incidentally, former minister Luis Alex alias Mama Cardoso who was instrumental in forming the SC/ST Welfare Commission was heard complaining that nobody bothered to invite him for the function.
Scholarships were distributed to tribal students as soon as the official inaugural function was over.
Director of Tribal Welfare Venacio Furtado disclosed that the Margao will be headed by Deputy Dirctor Dipti Kankonkar who will be present for two days of the week initially and later on permanently.
