PANAJI
Tribal Minister Govind Gaude on Monday assured the pending demands of the tribal community would be resolved with the main one of implementing a Tribal Forest Act to be completed by December this year.
Speaking to media persons during the announcement of a department event, Gaude said the implementation of the act will safeguard the interests of the tribal community assuring it to be in place by the end of this year.
“There are 12 demands of the tribal department of which political reservation and implementing the tribal forest act are the most important ones. I’ve already had initial meetings and by December this year, we will make sure all those that given their applications from the community are cleared. This act will ensure prevention of atrocities against the tribal community and give them protection and rehabilitation,” he said.
Currently there are around 10,100 families that have filed applications under the act to scheduled tribes and other traditional Forest Dwellers Act 2006 that is also referred to the Forest Rights Act, the Tribal Rights Act, the Tribal Bill and the Tribal Land Act. Most of the applications that have been received are from the areas of Sattari and Dharbandora.
Gaude also said the Adivasi community had lived in forests for centuries and have used the forest produce to cultivate food for them. “But today there are increasing number of encroachments in the areas that they live in,” he said.
The minister made the comments after announcing the annual Prerana Din event that remembers Manguesh Gaonkar and Deelip Velip, the two young men that lost their lives during the 2011 Balli riots.
The event that will be held on May 25 at 10 am at the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, Ponda will be used to create awareness among the tribal community of govt schemes.
and to boost their use.
Chief Guest for the function will be Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, guest of honor will be social welfare minister Pandurang Madkaikar and will be attended by Gaude, Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar and chairperson of the Goa Commission for SC/ST, Prakash Velip.
