MARGAO: The United Tribals Association Alliance (UTAA) on Saturday called upon the government to expedite the construction of the Tribal Bhavan in Porvorim.
The UTAA also announced that it would deploy teams to 10 talukas throughout Goa, dedicated to hearing and resolving the grievances of the Scheduled Tribes community.
By engaging directly with tribal members, UTAA seeks to facilitate meaningful dialogue and action on pressing issues.
Speaking to reporters at Margao, Prakash Velip, President of UTAA, along with other members, pointed out that the foundation stone for the Tribal Bhavan was laid down two years ago, but since then, there has been no progress on the construction. Velip emphasised the frustration felt by the community due to the lack of development on the project. The Tribal Bhavan was supposed to house the Tribal Department, Tribal Commission and Tribal Corporation, facilities like a hostel and gym for students, with shops to generate revenue for the building’s upkeep. According to UTAA, once the Tribal Bhavan is constructed and starts functioning, it will bring a revolution among the tribal community in Goa. Velip demanded that under the coaching scheme, students studying in professional colleges should receive a 75% benefit concerning their fees.
“Studying in professional colleges has become costly in recent years, and ST students are facing a tough time coping with the fees, which are in lakhs of rupees. The government needs to look into this matter seriously,” said Velip.
“We have been receiving several complaints that even the government schemes for the ST community are not given at the right time to the beneficiaries,” he alleged.
Speaking about the new initiative to visit every ward with a high tribal population, Velip stated that his association aims to address issues and grievances while also raising awareness about UTAA. “We will be meeting with women’s groups, government servants, students, and others to hear their grievances. The drive will commence on June 6 and conclude on June 11, followed by a one-day workshop to deliberate on the issues reported,” he explained.
