MARGAO
Towards this end, the Minister said he has fixed August 9 i.e. World Tribal Day as the tentative date for the opening of the South District office of the Tribal Department in the old collectorate building.
While stating that the Advisory Council under Tribal Welfare will be put in place within the next 1-2 months, Gaude said that he has issued directions to the Director Tribal Welfare to expedite and dispose of the case under
the Tribal Forest Act by December.
He was addressing members of the ST community at a programme organized by the Salcete Tribal Forum at the Ravindra Bhavan here on Saturday. He felicitated Margao Municipal Council vice-chairperson Tito Cardozo and newly-elected sarpanchas and deputy sarpanchas belonging to the ST community from Salcete.
The Minister said that the government will rope in an agency to undertake a survey of the ST population in Goa, while making a fervent plea to the tribal NGOs to assist the agency to ascertain the exact population of the community in Goa.
Gawde pointed out that he along with the Tribal Welfare Director will interact with the Forest Rights Committee to ensure expeditious disposal of cases. "The Tribal department office will see light of the day in South Goa within a month and half. We have tentatively set August 9 to inaugurate the office at the Old Colletorate, South coinciding with
the World Tribal Day\', Gaude said.
In his address, Chairperson SC/ST Corporation, Prakash Velip urged the community leaders to make forays in the Cooperation sector and prepare a five-year agenda for the welfare of the people. .
In his address, MMC vice-Chairperson Tito Cardozo urged the Minister to relax certain provisions in the tribal schemes in the Urban areas so that the benefits reach to the people.
