Itanagar: Union Minister for Tribal Affairs V Kishore Chandra Deo has assured Arunachal Pradesh to consider the demand of the state government for change in nomenclature of few tribes of the state.
The assurance came during a meeting the minister had with Chief Minister Nabam Tuki at New Delhi on Thursday, official sources said here on Friday.
Deo informed that recommendations for change in nomenclature of scheduled tribes in the state have to come through proper channel as per norms to enable the ministry to work on it.
He requested the state government to immediately send official recommendations for the same through the state secretariat, which he said is the normal procedure.
He assured that the recommendations would be positively considered by the ministry.
Tuki accompanied by Tourism and RWD Minister Pema Khandu explained Deo the demands of some tribes of the state for change in nomenclature including the need to change ‘Any Naga Tribe’ to the original nomenclatures of individual tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
To the request of the chief minister for grant of scholarship to students of the state studying in various universities, colleges, schools as well as those undergoing courses in various skill development trades, the union minister informed that there is already a system in place for grant of scholarships to tribal students, sources disclosed.
He requested the concerned officials and individual students to go through the grants available with the ministry and apply through proper channels.
Pema Khandu, who belongs to the Buddhist community of the state, also requested scholarship to students from the state undergoing religious studies in universities run by Buddhist institutions.
Deo informed that provision for scholarships is available with the ministry and can be availed by the students, which the ministry would be happy to provide.
To another request of the chief minister, Deo assured that the ministry would finance in skill development training for unemployed youths of the state through various schemes available including through CSR programmes implemented by various PSUs.
He sought a detailed data bank of skill trades specific to youths of Arunachal Pradesh from the concerned state government department.
Acknowledging the fact that Arunachal Pradesh is a hundred percent tribal state, the union minister assured that one joint secretary of the ministry would exclusively deal with issues pertaining to tribal affairs of the state.
As requested earlier by the state government for inclusion of an Arunachalee as a member in the National Commission of Scheduled Tribes, Deo informed that the process has been already initiated as per the recommendation made by the state government.
The union minister also assured Tuki that he would visit the state soon, sources added. (PTI)