While the State Government is mounting pressure on the Centre demanding release of more funds of assistance, the money released for the interest of tribals is yet to be spent.
Official sources admit that the Government has failed to spend funds meant for tribals released by the Centre to purchase forest produces to improve their economic condition.
The Centre had released Rs 64 crore, out of which a meagre Rs 1 crore has been spent by the State Government.
To stop illegal purchase of forest produces in the country, a Central scheme was prepared to fix prices for the forest produces collected by tribals from the forests.
The Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation (TDCC) was handed over the responsibility in State level to fix the costs of the forest produces by organising village meetings. The corporation was also assigned to purchase the produces from the tribals and transfer the amount in their bank accounts.
As per the decision by the village meetings, the agency was to get a 5- per cent commission on purchase of forest produces from tribals. However, the funds could not be spent in the State due to the Government’s negligence.
Due to the State Government’s negligence, brokers appear to be active in the tribal regions to buy the forest produces at low prices and sell them in the markets at high rates. As a result, the tribals are not getting proper prices for the collected forest produces and preferring to migrate other States in search of jobs.
The situation is likely to worsen in the coming days, sources said.