the goan I network
MARGAO
The recent Haryana High Court judgement has raised hopes amongst local tribal leaders that they may soon get political reservations for the Legislative Assembly, even as the United Tribal Association Alliance (UTTA) has expressed satisfaction over the implementation of its 12-point charter of demands in the State.
In another development, the Tribal Commission along with the ST Corporation will soon have a meeting with heads of the 26 government departments to ascertain the status of implementation of schemes for the Scheduled Tribes under the tribal sub plan.
Addressing the media in connection with the Prerana Din to be held at the Ravindra Bhavan, Curchorem on May 25, to mark the 7th Martyrdom Day of two tribal youth Manguesh Gaonkar and Dilip Velip in the 2011 Balli riots, UTTA chief Prakash Velip said that barring the three demands of 12 per cent political reservations in the State Assembly, declaration of Scheduled Areas and establishment of the Tribal Council, which come under the Union government, the State government has started implementing UTTA’s remaining nine demands. “The recent Haryana High Court judgement has raised hopes that Goa too may get the benefit of political reservations if the Delimitation Commission is constituted by the Centre,” Prakash said.
On the implementation of the tribal sub plan pegged at Rs 362 crore, the UTTA chief said the government had managed to utilise 60 per cent the funds allocated to the 26 government departments under the tribal sub plan.
“The Tribal Commission, the ST Corporation will soon have a meeting with the heads of the 26 government departments to ascertain the difficulties in the 100 per cent utilisation of funds meant for the tribals under the tribal sub plan,” he said.
Prakash, however, expressed his satisfaction that the Tribal Welfare department has taken concrete steps to implement the Tribal Forest Act, clear the unemployment backlog amongst the tribals, etc. “The government has taken a slew of measures in implementing the Tribal Forest Act. The mandatory provision that the gram sabha should be attended by 50 per cent of the villagers has come in the way of the smooth implementation of the Act,” he said, while suggesting that the government should relax the gram sabha provision so that tribals get the benefit of the Act.
Speaking on the 7th Prerana Day on May 25, the UTAA chief pointed out that both Manguesh Goankar and Dilip Velip had sacrificed their lives for the cause of the tribals at the height of the agitation at Balli on May 25, 2011.
The two young men lost their lives when they were holed up in the Achal godown at Balli when it was set afire by people from outside.
