There are cases that some people for their self interest and anti-national agenda are using tribal people, said National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), Chairperson Nand Kumar Sai, here on Wednesday.
The NCST, a Constitutional body, held a review meeting with senior officials of the State government on Wednesday with a view to find out the kind of tribal welfare programmes being run in the State.
Addressing a press gathering after the review meeting Sai demanded that the government should lift the case against innocent tribal people, who were “falsely implicated” under the Pathalgadi and Kochang cases. “As it is known by all that in Pathalgadi case the tribal people are being misguided by some treacherous persons to involve in unlawful activity. The commission has tried to make them aware about the misguidance and called them to come in the mainstream” he added.
On the issue of forcefully land acquisition Sai said that the State government has assured the commission that it has not taken any tribal land without permission of Gram Sabha. The commission further told the State government that if it takes any tribal person’s land then it first needs to make sure of his living arrangements before displacement.
Speaking on the occasion Vice Chairperson NCST, Ansuiya Uikey said that police camps in the schools is not good for the local areas as it creates ruckus in education of children and women of the areas are also feeling unsafe. So the governments should create other arrangements for the camps.
Replying from the side of the government during the meeting Chief Secretary, Sudhir Tripathy, said the focus of the government is integrated development of the tribes. Many schemes are being run for this. Hundred per cent of tribal community is being covered with schemes such as Sanitation Campaign, Ujjawala Scheme, Jan Dhan Scheme and Indradhanush Scheme.
Terming the violation of the PESA law as a misdemeanor in land acquisition through single window, the CS informed that the government has made minor modifications by adopting all legal process at the local level in the National Law Acquisition Act. In that, provision of land acquisition has been made only by accelerated procedure for government’s schemes. There is also a provision for consent of Gram Sabha.
Tripathy further added to empower Gram Sabha in the tribal-dominated areas, the government has arranged for honorarium to the village heads. Tana Bhagat Development Authority has been constituted for the integrated development of 20 thousand Tana Bhagats.
Sai expressing his concern over the removal of certain villages from the Palamu Tiger Project area said that we need both tiger and tribals. He demanded that the people from village should not be removed till they are provided other place to live. Chief Secretary told Sai that no one will removed from the village without their will.