TAC wants its quorum to be finalised

Though the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) may have been formed in Uttarakhand its quorum has not been completed yet. In addition to completing the TAC quorum, the funds allocated for tribal welfare should be used effectively for the intended purpose. There are some points in the bylaws of the State’s TAC which need to be clarified or rectified. Instead of reservation, tribals need better education and effective use of funds allocated for their welfare. These views were expressed by representatives of five tribes living in Uttarakhand in a one-day State tribunal on the TAC organised in Dehradun under the banner of Bhoomi Adhikar Manch (BAM), a community based organisation of tribals working for tribal rights.

Retired IAS officer SS Pangtey said that tribal rights and welfare are serious constitutional issues. Pointing at the need for ensuring that genuine candidates are appointed to the TAC quorum, he said that some points in the State’s TAC bylaws need to be clarified or corrected. Citing the bylaws drafted by the Janjati Kalyan Samiti for the TAC, he said that these should be referred to by the government for formulating the TAC bylaws.

Directorate of Tribal Welfare joint director Yogendra Rawat said that he would submit proposal for establishing more Eklayva Vidyalayas for tribal children to his superiors. The government will conduct hearing the redressal of cases under the Forest Rights Act in a campaign mode tillDecember 31, he said, while adding that the absence of a pressure group may have prevented swift action on FRA cases. Social Welfare director Kishan Nath spoke in detail about the various programmes of the Social Welfare department. He also assured that he will convey all the issues raised in the meeting to the officials concerned.

BAM members representing the State’s five tribes- Tharu, Buxa, Bhotiya, Vanraji and Jaunsari spoke on the problems faced by tribals. BAM president Jawahar Singh said that tribal children need better education and not reservation to progress. Other tribal speakers mentioned the problems resulting from lack of clear information and spending of Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) funds on works not required for tribal welfare like on construction of cattle sheds which the tribals themselves have already been building without problem.Nilesh from Find Your Feet organisation, Prem Pancholi and others also expressed their views on the occasion.