New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to know the 'Mann ki baat' of the tribals in areas hit by Naxalism to restore their faith in government, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said on Sunday.
He also slammed the previous UPA government at the Centre for its "bureaucratic" approach in engaging with tribals.
"The focus under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to reach out to the tribals in Maoist affected areas to know their 'mann ki baat' for their holistic development and restore their faith in the government," Oram told PTI.
"The previous UPA government had a bureaucratic approach in engaging with them which led to trust deficit.
"Tribals were oppressed by the previous government's decisions. They had experienced good governance during the NDA regime under the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and now again the Modi dispensation has rekindled their hopes," he said.
The minister said unlike in the past when the Centre made available funds on the suggestions of the state governments, the new NDA dispensation wanted to ensure the tribals had a say in their development.
"In the past, we used to give whatever the state governments would ask for. Now we do not give Rs 100 crores just like that. We go into the details of the projects proposed by the state and ensure that tribals have been roped in while formulating the provisions. The aim is to ensure that the tribals are able to reap the benefits meant for them," he said.
