MARGAO
Chairperson of the SC/ST Commissioner, Ramesh Tawadkar on Thursday said that the Commission will not only take up cases relating to atrocities and matters relating to service, but also entertain complaints on issues such as non-utilisation of the tribal sub-plan by government departments and failure to dispose of cases under Forest Right Act.
Saying that around 218 cases have been pending with the Commission before he took over the reigns of office a month and half ago, Tawadkar said the Commission is also in receipt of complaints that aided schools are not implementing the roaster for SC/ST and other matter such as promotions.
The SC/ST Commissioner was in the South Goa district Collectorate on Thursday to take stock of the exercise as the Commission organised a four-day camp for the disposal of pending cases before the Commission pertaining from South Goa.
Addressing the media, Tawadkar said since there were a few complicated matters pertaining from South Goa, it was decided to have the first round of hearing of these matters in the South district Collectorate. “Our exercise has received the desired response as around 80 per cent of the parties to the dispute had turned up for the hearing of matters. The parties have submitted their say and the Commission will now take the proceedings forward,” he added.
Saying that some of the cases have been pending before the Commission since 2013, Tawadkar said the Commission has set on a task to ensure that the party are imparted proper guidance.
“The Commission has disposed of around nine cases since I took over the reigns of office a month and half ago. These matters were either relating to service, atrocities and land issues”, he added.
He pointed out that the Commission intends to call organisations fighting for the rights of tribals such as UTTA, GAKUVED and others and will try to understand their expectations from the commission.
“The Commission will take up complaints received on questions such as non-utilization of funds allocated to the departments under the tribal sub plan and failure to dispose of cases under the Forest Rights Act”, he said, adding that the Commission under his Chairmanship will mete out justice to the people by holding camps in the talukas.
