Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the State Government is committed to the welfare of people including the tribal class who are lagging far behind in development.
These classes are the first to have the right over the Government treasury also. Chouhan said that efforts will be made for their integrated development by upholding their traditions, life values and culture of the tribals. Chief Minister and Chairperson of the Council Chouhan said this in a meeting of the Tribal Advisory Council held at Mantralaya through video conference on Wednesday.
It was informed on the occasion that a new museum focusing on tribal life will be started in Shahdol division by the department. For this, a suitable site in Umaria or nearby will be selected. At present, this type of museum of the department is operating in Chhindwara.
Departmental Minister and Council Vice Chairman Meena Singh was also present in the meeting. Members of the Council including Forest Minister Vijay Shah, MLA Amar Singh, Kunwar Singh Tekam, Sharad Kaul, Jaisingh Maravi, Nandini Maravi, Pahar Singh Kannauje, Dilip Makwana, Rupnarayan, Ram Dangere, Kalusingh Mujalda etc. also took part through the video conference.
Chouhan said that if there is a need to change the nature of the tribal welfare schemes, then such changes will be made after a study. He said that the implementation of the Pesa Act in Himachal Pradesh and other states will be studied and necessary decisions will be taken. The Chief Minister said that hostels will also be started for tribal students as per requirement.
The Chief Minister said that an initiative was taken to amend the Madhya Pradesh Scheduled Tribe Money Lenders Regulations-1972 to protect the tribal class from loans with huge interest from moneylenders. The provision of loan from such moneylenders by making license mandatory for moneylenders and the process of waiving loans given against the rules was started through the Madhya Pradesh Scheduled Tribe Loan Waiver Bill-2020. Chouhan sought information about the implementation of statutory provisions regarding compulsion of license of the moneylender. A total benefit of Rs 218 crores has been provided to the beneficiaries of the ST category under the Dietary Grant Scheme. He said that such efforts will continue in the interest of the tribal class.
Forest pattas to all eligible personsChief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the implementation of tribal welfare schemes should lead to change in the lives of tribal class. No one will be allowed to usurp the property of tribal class. He said that no eligible person will be deprived of forest rights. The Chief Minister directed to ensure that there are no new cases of possession. Forest rights should be given to those occupying pattas before December 2006. Action will be taken against those who intend to marry tribal girls for possessing their land.
Chouhan said that the benefits of the schemes should be provided to the people of special backward tribes like Baiga, Sahariya and Bhariya for residing anywhere in addition to their actual place of residence. He said that efforts will be made to provide economic benefits to the people of tribal class for other forest produce like tendu leaf. In addition to 14 forest produce in the state, purchase of 18 new minor forest produce has been started on support price. Chouhan instructed departmental officers that tribal welfare schemes should be given pace. The work of Joint Forest Management Committees should also be reviewed.
The Chief Minister said that a health survey of the tribal population will be conducted in the entire state for control of genetic disease Sickle Cell Anaemia among the tribals. Along with this, health cards will also be provided to them. Awareness campaign will also be conducted in the tribal community to protect against the fatal disease like Sickle Cell Anaemia.