VISAKHAPATNAM: The TDP government has no plans to allow bauxite mining in Visakhapatnam agency area without the consent of the tribals, for it is against anti-tribal policies, social welfare and tribal welfare minister R Kishore Babu has reiterated.
The minister told newsmen here Wednesday that the TDP, while sitting in the opposition earlier, extended its supported to tribals and fought against bauxite mining. The government would honour all the sentiments and views of tribals in the bauxite mining before taking any further decision, he said.
“As the tribal welfare minister, I’m clearing all the doubts of the tribals in this regard,” Kishore Babu clarified and added that the superintendent of police, Visakhapatnam district, has already been asked to spread the message among tribals that the government does not have any plans to excavate the bauxite reserves.
Minister’s Promise
Furnishing details about the reforms likely to be introduced in welfare and residential schools, the minister said that action plans were being prepared to develop all the hostels into residential schools. The government has decided to establish three mega residential schools in each mandal clubbing inaccessible, remote and low-student strength schools. This cluster residential school would be linked with hostels and provide admissions for day scholars by providing free transportation facilities, he informed.
“Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had already directed the officials to conduct a survey and find out how many students staying in the welfare hostels would be given admission in the nearest residential schools. The report would be submitted in a week,” he added.
In the wake of the incident reported in the social welfare girls’ hostel in Eluru recently, directions were issued to prepare strict guidelines for outsourced personnel working in the hostels.
Classes on personality development, ethical and moral values would held for the inmates. Solar security fencing and solar lighting would be arranged at all the SC/ST welfare hostels with the help of the NEDCAP, he said.
On the implementation of the SC/ST sub-plan, he said that there was a delay in setting up a district level monitoring committee and launching of a separate web portal. The government would shortly launch a web portal on the SC/ST sub-plan so the public can view its implementation, he said. Elected representatives would be placed in the district-level monitoring committee, he added.