NEW DELHI: Minister for Social Welfare, Deborah Marak on Thursday impressed upon the Ministry to urgently release its share of funds for tribal welfare on different heads for the overall development of various ethnic communities.
Addressing the State Tribal Welfare Ministers and Secretaries conference here, Deborah said that the absence of funds from the centre has caused various schemes like education and employment of the communities taking hit.
The meeting called to evolve strategies for overall development of tribal communities was inaugurated by the Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram.
“The central share of funds running into crores of rupees has been pending with the Union Government,” Deborah said.
“The pending funds are on heads of scholarships, grand in aids to voluntary organizations, constructions of hostels and vocational training in tribal areas,” she added.
In his speech, Oram said that the Government has initiated specific interventions besides provision of hostels for ST boys and girls across the country which has obviously contributed in raising the level of education. Yet it needs improvement to cope up with the modern needs of the market in terms of merit generation adding, “Dropout among ST students have been a matter of concern for us and needs to be dealt with persuasive efforts”.
“On both matric scholarships heads alone, over 36 crore rupees are pending with the Centre for 2015-16,” Deborah stated.
She also added some NGOs have been provided with grants and incentives for overall development of tribals. She also appreciated the Centre for its liberal assistance to Ramakrishna Mission in Cherrapunji as well as Shillong which was engaged in tribal upliftment in the hill state.
But at the same time the Centre should also release remaining pending funds for 2015-16, to carry on such developmental work among tribal, the state minister said. The ministry should also clear the proposals of the state for welfare of its predominant tribal communities. The Union Minister however, expressed concern over non-serious NGOs in the social sector. He said while in remote areas and Left Wing Effected areas where the reach of Government agencies is limited, it is desirable to join hands with the NGOs with the local roots.
The Union Minister said some times, formal health services are not acceptable to the tribals and hence, integration of traditional medicine and tribal healing system becomes necessary.
Terming the unemployment position among scheduled tribes as acute, the Minister said there is a need to find innovative solution to make agriculture sustainable and remunerative activity to create gainful employment in tribal areas.
Tribal farmers should be trained in allied occupations such as dairy, horticulture, floriculture, fisheries and poultry with backward and forward linkages to increase their sustainable income, he suggested.
The Minister announced first five days National Tribal Carnival to be held in Delhi from April 29 to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Meghalaya will participate in the carnival to showcase its rich and varied tribal art and culture.
