New Delhi: Tribal Affairs Ministry has been
running a program for development of tribals in the country
since 2005-06, to provide the community basic facilities such
as roads, health care, education, irrigation, sanitation and
community halls, government said on Friday.
Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of
State for Tribal Affairs Mahadeo Singh Khandela said, "The
programme of Development of Forest Villages was launched in
2005-06 for welfare of inhabitants of forest villages which
was originally estimated to be about 2.5 lakh tribal
families."
Noting that state-wise detail of beneficiaries covered
under the programme is not maintained, Khandela said, "All the
residents of such forest villages are intended to be covered
under the programme."
On development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups
(PTG), he said, "There is a scheme for overall protection and
development of PTGs and main activities undertaken under this
scheme are housing, agriculture, employment, construction of
link roads and availability of drinking water."
The Ministry is providing grants to state governments for
constructing houses for families belonging to these
communities free of cost, he said.
Replying to a question on exploitation of tribals,
Khandela said, "No specific case has been reported to the
Ministry. However, some complaints were received alleging
eviction of tribal communities and those have been sent to
Ministry of Environment and Forest for necessary action."
Khandela was asked whether there have been instances of
repression by forest department officials, indiscriminate
police eviction and false criminal cases being filed against
tribals ignoring prohibitory provisions in the Forest Rights
Act 2006.
PTI
First Published: Friday, August 12, 2011, 22:40