Scheme for development of facilities for tribals launched
Updated: Oct 28, 2014 04:49:23pm
New Delhi, Oct 28 (KNN) The Centre today launched Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY), a scheme by which various facilities will be developed for the welfare of tribal communities in different states.
The Scheme which will be implemented on pilot basis in one block each of the states of AP, MP, HP, Telangana, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat was launched during the meeting of tribal welfare ministers of states/UTs here, by Union Tribal Welfare Minister, Jual Oram.
“Under the scheme centre will provide Rs. 10 crore for each block for the development of various facilities for the tribals. These blocks have been selected on the recommendations of the concerned States and have very low literacy rate,” said an official release.
Speaking on the occasion Oram said this scheme mainly focuses on bridging infrastructural gaps and gap in human development indices between schedule tribes and other social groups.
He said VKY also focuses on convergence of different schemes of development of central ministries/departments and state governments, with outcome oriented approach. Initially the blocks having at least 33 per cent of tribal population in comparison to total population of the block will be targeted.
Oram informed that the Ministry has taken up initiatives for strengthening of existing institutions meant for delivery of goods and services to tribal people namely, Integrated Tribal Development Agencies /Integrated Development Project and creation of new ones wherever necessary.
He said that specific funds allocated to the State Governments for this purpose should be utilized judiciously with a view to building the institutional mechanism more robustly by way of strengthening these institutions.
Referring to the situation where Minor Forest Produce (MFP) is more often than not determined by the traders instead of self-sustained process of demand and supply, the Minister said his Ministry has taken note of the situation and has implemented a scheme to ensure that such forest dwellers are not deprived of their due.
Under the scheme maximum selling price for MFP is being implemented in schedule V States initially. Further, a web based portal has been developed which indicates the current price of MFPs on real time basis across different mandis of the States.
As many as 12 MFP products have been included in the programme namely - Tendu Leaves, Bamboo, Mahuwa Seeds, Sal Leaf, Sal Seed, Lac, Chironjee, Wild Honey, Myrobalan, Tamarind, Gums (Gum Karaya) and Karanji.
The Minister also referred to the Forests Rights Act as a landmark legislation to recognize the pre-existing rights of tribals and other traditional forest dwellers and informed that out of 37.69 Lakh claims filed by the intended beneficiaries about 14.57 Lakh individual rights title and more than 22,200 community forest rights titles have been distributed as on June 2014.
Earlier addressing the meeting Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Mansukhbai Dhanjibha Vasava said the Ministry would also focus on skill development and employment generation initiatives for sustainable livelihood of tribal people.
Further, in order to facilitate infrastructure for provision of quality education to the tribals, the Ministry has sanctioned about 184 Eklavya Modal Residential Schools. Vasava said these schools are intended to be equipped with requisite infrastructure and conducive environment for ensuring delivery of quality education among the tribal communities. (KNN/ES)
The Scheme which will be implemented on pilot basis in one block each of the states of AP, MP, HP, Telangana, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat was launched during the meeting of tribal welfare ministers of states/UTs here, by Union Tribal Welfare Minister, Jual Oram.
“Under the scheme centre will provide Rs. 10 crore for each block for the development of various facilities for the tribals. These blocks have been selected on the recommendations of the concerned States and have very low literacy rate,” said an official release.
Speaking on the occasion Oram said this scheme mainly focuses on bridging infrastructural gaps and gap in human development indices between schedule tribes and other social groups.
He said VKY also focuses on convergence of different schemes of development of central ministries/departments and state governments, with outcome oriented approach. Initially the blocks having at least 33 per cent of tribal population in comparison to total population of the block will be targeted.
Oram informed that the Ministry has taken up initiatives for strengthening of existing institutions meant for delivery of goods and services to tribal people namely, Integrated Tribal Development Agencies /Integrated Development Project and creation of new ones wherever necessary.
He said that specific funds allocated to the State Governments for this purpose should be utilized judiciously with a view to building the institutional mechanism more robustly by way of strengthening these institutions.
Referring to the situation where Minor Forest Produce (MFP) is more often than not determined by the traders instead of self-sustained process of demand and supply, the Minister said his Ministry has taken note of the situation and has implemented a scheme to ensure that such forest dwellers are not deprived of their due.
Under the scheme maximum selling price for MFP is being implemented in schedule V States initially. Further, a web based portal has been developed which indicates the current price of MFPs on real time basis across different mandis of the States.
As many as 12 MFP products have been included in the programme namely - Tendu Leaves, Bamboo, Mahuwa Seeds, Sal Leaf, Sal Seed, Lac, Chironjee, Wild Honey, Myrobalan, Tamarind, Gums (Gum Karaya) and Karanji.
The Minister also referred to the Forests Rights Act as a landmark legislation to recognize the pre-existing rights of tribals and other traditional forest dwellers and informed that out of 37.69 Lakh claims filed by the intended beneficiaries about 14.57 Lakh individual rights title and more than 22,200 community forest rights titles have been distributed as on June 2014.
Earlier addressing the meeting Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Mansukhbai Dhanjibha Vasava said the Ministry would also focus on skill development and employment generation initiatives for sustainable livelihood of tribal people.
Further, in order to facilitate infrastructure for provision of quality education to the tribals, the Ministry has sanctioned about 184 Eklavya Modal Residential Schools. Vasava said these schools are intended to be equipped with requisite infrastructure and conducive environment for ensuring delivery of quality education among the tribal communities. (KNN/ES)
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