Minister for Revenue N Raghuveera Reddy on Wednesday promised the tribals of the state that the cabinet sub-committee on the implementation of the SC/ ST sub-plan would submit its report to the state government within a few days. He was addressing a tribal gathering at the World Tribal day celebrations organised by the Girijana Vidyarthi Samakhya. Raghuveera Reddy said that after its formation in April, the sub-committee held several meetings with representatives of the Dalit and tribal communities across the state and has neared the completion of its report, he said.
The tribals, however, seemed to be fed up with the promises made by the ministers and their representative V Shankar Naik, founder president of the Girijana Vidyarthi Samakhya, spoke of the failure of the government in protecting the rights of tribals. He said that the Forest Rights Act is being violated, and tribals are facing a constant threat of eviction and displacement while the state government is doing nothing to protect them.
He urged the government to direct the implementing authorities to recognise the rights of tribals instead of trampling upon them. “The state government should give extra focus on all the tribal areas for the all-round development of tribals across the state,” he demanded.
Raghuveera Reddy then accepted the fact that funds meant for the development of SC’s and ST’s were being diverted to urban developments projects.
Regarding proper utilisation of funds meant for tribals and dalits, minister for primary education S Sailajanath said that from this year, funds will be issued according to the proportion of the SC/ ST sub-communities in the state.