Not a single member from Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes communities in the State has been nominated by the State Government as a member of general body in Madhya Pradesh Eco Tourism Development Board since its formation in 2005.
Revealing this information to media, Bhopal-based environmental activist Ajay Dubey alleged that the Forest ministry has violated the spirit of constitution again by not nominating any person from these communities as non-government members of the general body of the Board despite presence of several talented persons.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary on Thursday, Dubey has alleged that the officers of Forest department do not want to see members of these communities joining the mainstream and strengthening their voices. "This is the reason why persons from outside the state are always illegitimately appointed as members of this body," he lamented. Raising questions on the veracity of the claims made by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, he further stated, "The Chief Minister has claimed in several times that his Government is dedicated to welfare of tribals and other weaker sections of the society. It is beyond comprehension that despite this very fact, the State Forest department has nominated as non-official members a handful of capitalists in Board."
Notably, the names currently proposed by the ministry are Managing Director of Ibex Expeditions Private ltd Mandip Singh Soin, representative of Hotel Association Kamal Grover, Taj Group Eco-tourism expert Sarath CR and President of Adventure Tour Operators Association of India Ajit Bajaj.
Dubey demanded the State should immediately take steps to nominate in the Board members of tribal and marginal sections and fulfill its responsibility under article 14 of the constitution which mandates the state to treat all citizens with equality.