TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Minister for tribal welfare Ramesh Tawadkar on Tuesday told the State Assembly that since 2010 no funds were utilized for the welfare of tribal community in the State.
Even for the financial year 2012-13, the funds remained unutilized as there were not many takers for tribal welfare schemes, the Minister for tribal welfare told Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavalekar during Question Hour.
Since October 2012, the BJP government has introduced seven schemes for the community which includes financial assistance to construct new houses, repair houses, financial support to students, assistance for study tours, etc.
The minister said that the previous government deprived the poor among the Scheduled Tribes from availing the benefits under the schemes.
“Since there were no steps initiated for welfare of tribals all these years there were no takers for the schemes, which we launched,” he said, adding ‘the procedure for applying for various schemes would be simplified.
Tawadkar said that special camps would be organized in talukas to create awareness on various schemes, from May.
To another question, tabled by Kavalekar, Tawadkar said 32 committees have been constituted for implementing provisions of the Forest Dwellers Act in various parts of the State.
“Twenty more committees would be constituted shortly,” he said, adding ‘each committee would look into different aspects of Forest Dwellers Act.
Kavalekar cited the case in Quepem taluka, wherein tribals are living on forest land in municipal area and need protection. “Being a unique case, we would be looking into the matter on priority,” he assured.
