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Sustained economic activity not possible under shadow of gun: PM

Thursday, 05 November 2009 02:32 administrator
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The Hindu 05.11.2009

Sustained economic activity not possible under shadow of gun: PM

Aarti Dhar

“Exploitation of our tribal communities can no longer be tolerated”

. — Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurating the Conference of Chief Ministers and State Ministers (Forest/Tribal Development) in New Delhi on Wednesday. Minister of Tribal Affairs Kanti Lal Bhuria (second left) and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh are present

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said the cult of violence would only bring greater misery to the common people.

Inaugurating the Chief Ministers’ Conference on Implementation of the Forests Rights Act, 2006 here, he said that no sustained economic activity was possible in the tribal areas under the shadow of the gun. Nor have those who claim to speak for the tribal communities offered an alternative economic or social path that is viable.

“While violence cannot be tolerated, the tribals must be the primary beneficiaries of the development process.”

Alienation over decades

Pointing out that there had been a “systemic failure” in giving the tribals a stake in the modern economic processes that inexorably intrude into their living space, Dr. Singh said the alienation over decades was now taking a dangerous turn in some parts of the country.

“The systematic exploitation and social and economic abuse of our tribal communities can no longer be tolerated. But the fact is that no sustained activity is possible under the shadow of gun,” he said. “We have to win the battle for their hearts and their mouths.”

The Prime Minister said the problems faced by the tribal communities were complex and required sympathetic and systematic understanding. The National Tribal Policy should factor in the different nuances of tribal life as they exist in several parts of our great country. For this, he suggested that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs engage in wide public consultation and debate.

Stressing the need to reflect on how to improve the laws and mechanism through which compensation is provided to displaced tribal people, Dr. Singh said these people must benefit from the projects for which they have been displaced.

“But resettlement and rehabilitation raise serious issues not just of monetary compensation. We have to address issues relating to creating sustainable livelihoods, preserving traditional sense of community and helping the tribals cope with the trauma of dislocation and alienation.”

Calling upon the Chief Ministers — most of whom did not turn up — to spare no effort to ensure effective implementation of The Scheduled Tribe and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act, 2006, the Prime Minister said: “We cannot have equitable growth without guaranteeing the legitimate rights of these eventually marginalised and isolated sections of society. The distribution of titles (under the Act) is but an important and necessary first step.” The Act attempts to deal holistically with the issue not only in terms of recognition of rights but of livelihood opportunities and environmental protection and conservation.

“Provide incentives”

Emphasising the importance of posting committed and competent officers in tribal areas, he asked the States to consider offering string incentives like hardship allowances, special housing and educational facilities or grants for officers who stay in tribal areas to strengthen and create administrative machinery in these areas.

He also suggested reviewing and withdrawing cases registered against the tribals under the forest laws, which had often become a source of harassment and exploitation.

Last Updated on Thursday, 05 November 2009 02:34
 

Model labs for 28 tribal schools

Friday, 04 September 2009 03:20 administrator
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The Hindu 04.09.2009

Model labs for 28 tribal schools

T. Nandakumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) has started work on a project to equip 28 tribal schools with model science laboratories.

The project will be taken up in collaboration with the Department for Development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the Sastraposhini programme aimed at improving the quality of science education. Executive vice-president of KSCSTE E.P. Yesodharan said the department had agreed to fund the joint project. “Our officials have visited 13 tribal schools to assess the existing infrastructure. They will propose necessary improvements,” he said.

As many as 114 government schools have already been provided with model laboratories under the Sastraposhini programme launched in 2003. The programme is expected to lead to improved enrolment in science courses, develop better competitiveness among science graduates and encourage students to seek a career in science.

Teachers are also encouraged to carry out innovative projects in science education for children. Students are provided hands-on training in performing experiments.

The model science labs are being established at a cost of Rs.3 lakh each. Labs are built to specifications in size, furniture, lighting and apparatus. The KSCSTE will fund the labs for the first two years, after which they will be handed over to the Education Department.

Management committees comprising school authorities and representatives of teachers and parents act as a review forum. Teachers handling the labs are encouraged to interact with each other and share their experiences.

According to R. Prakashkumar, Principal Scientific Officer, KSCSTE, the Nodal Officer for the Sastraposhini scheme, the model laboratories had generated excitement among students and provided an element of fun in learning. The extension of the project to tribal schools will boost the quality of education in backward regions and help arrest the dropout rate.

“Our initial assessment revealed that children in tribal schools can make use of good laboratory facilities to learn science better,” he said.

The council is also embarking on a project to set up district science parks for children on the lines of the Science and Technology Museum in Thiruvananthapuram. While the council will fund the parks to be set up in Kollam and Kozhikode, the Revenue Department has agreed to finance the park in Thrissur in the first phase.

Last Updated on Friday, 04 September 2009 03:27
 

New project to collect SC/STs data

Sunday, 30 August 2009 00:29 administrator
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The Hindu 30.08.2009

New project to collect SC/STs data

Staff Reporter

To ascertain if welfare measures are reaching target group

 

Survey to be conducted in 13,694 identified colonies

A site with 5 SC/ST families to be considered a colony

PALAKKAD: Minister for Electricity and Welfare of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes A.K. Balan inaugurated the data-collection process of SC and ST clusters of the State at a function in Kannadi grama panchayat, near here, on Saturday.

Details of members of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities will be collected throughout the State to ascertain whether welfare measures are reaching the target group or not, the Minister said.

Survey

The survey will be conducted in the 13,649 identified colonies in the 999 grama panchayats, 53 municipalities and five corporations of the State. The survey will be conducted by the Local Administration and SC and ST Welfare Departments.

Colonies

It will be conducted in areas where five or more SC/ST families are residing. The site will be considered a colony.

The meeting was presided over by district panchayat president Subida Isahaq and M.B. Rajesh, MP, was the chief guest at the function.

Last Updated on Sunday, 30 August 2009 00:31
 

467 integrated SW hostels to come up in State

Tuesday, 25 August 2009 09:59 administrator
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The New Indian Express 25.08.2009

467 integrated SW hostels to come up in State

Express News Service

 

HYDERABAD: The State Government will construct 467 integrated modern social welfare hostels in the next two years. Students of SC, ST and BC communities will be accomodated in the same building instead of the earlier practice of accomodating them in seperate buildings.

Of the Rs 1,144.15 crore required for construction of these hostel buildings, the State Government will allocate Rs 500 crore in the 2010-11 financial year and the remaining Rs 644.15 crore during the 2011-12 financial year. Further, it has also been decided to construct 78 residential schools at a cost of Rs 780 crore and 334 post-metric hostels at a cost of Rs 818 crore.

The amount will be allocated during the budget for the financial years of 2012-13 and 2013-14 respectively.

At the review meeting on integrated modern hostels held today, Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy assured to provide the required funds for construction of the hostels during the next four years.

The Andhra Pradesh Educational Welfare Infrastructure Development Corporation has been entrusted with the responsibility of constructing the hostel buildings with modern design and facilities.

About eight lakh students are accomodated in about 4,800 welfare hostels in the State.

Finance Minister K Rosaiah, Social Welfare Minister P Subhash Chandra Bose, BC Welfare Minister Mukesh Goud, Tribal Wel fare Minister Balaraju and other officials were present.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 August 2009 10:01
 

SC Corporation outlay for 2009-10 is Rs. 18.52 cr.

Monday, 17 August 2009 06:13 administrator
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The Hindu - Andhra Pradesh 17.08.2009

SC Corporation outlay for 2009-10 is Rs. 18.52 cr.

Staff Reporter

Government subsidy is Rs. 3.23 crores

 

Number of beneficiaries is 11,159

Corporation to monitor utilisation of loan

Kakinada: The SC Corporation has pegged its plan outlay for 2009-10 at Rs 18.52 crores and the number of beneficiaries at 11,159. Included in the plan figure is a State Government subsidy of Rs 3.23 crores, subsidy from other departments amounting to Rs 7.73 crores and Rs 6.78 crores of bank loans. The beneficiaries’ contribution is put at Rs 16.22 lakhs. The current year (2009-10)’s outlay is Rs 3.26 crores less than that of the previous year (2008-09), which was Rs 21.78 crores. However, 2008-09 target was exceeded by Rs 9.81 crores, which was 145 percent (Rs 31.59 crores) of the target (Rs 21.78 crores).

Some of the highlights of the 2009-10 plan are: Rs 1.18 crores for self-employment units to 220 beneficiaries with a maximum subsidy of Rs 30,000 per unit, bank loan of Rs 2.70 crores to 4,050 self-help groups member belonging to Scheduled Castes, power tillers with a subsidy of Rs 30,000 each by the SC Corporation and Agriculture Department, Rs 1.28 crores for providing irrigation facilities in 390 acres of land and giving training to 1,820 beneficiaries and Rs 8.12 crores for land development schemes in association with District Water Management Agency, Agriculture, Horticulture and Irrigation Department and AP-Transco.

While releasing the SC Corporation Action Plan, Social Welfare Minister Pilli Subhaschandra Bose said 1,13,116 SC beneficiaries got their loans amounting to Rs 49.14 crores waived. The Corporation was asked to act not merely as a loan giver but to ensure that the financial assistance extended by it was properly utilized. It was supposed to provide a subsidy of 50 per cent or Rs 30,000 whichever is higher to the beneficiaries whose activities needed to be monitored regularly. The Agriculture Department was advised to encourage SC youth to take up agricultural activities.

Last Updated on Monday, 17 August 2009 06:25
 
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