The State government will table a Bill to accord statutory status to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes sub-plan on the lines of a law passed in Andhra Pradesh recently, in the winter session to be held in Belgaum next month. Disclosing this to media persons here on Wednesday, Minister for Social Welfare H. Anjaneya said that the proposed Bill will ensure allocation of funds to both the section in proportion to their population. On becoming law, it will ensure total utilisation of funds allocated to these sections in the pla-nned budget. “The Bill is being tabled, as the funds are not being utilised or are being diverted. The Law Department is providing the final touches to the Bill,” he said.
On the inordinate delay in according community rights to tribal people in the State, the Minister said that a Cabinet sub-committee comprising high-level officials of forest, revenue and social welfare departments has been set up. The government is awaiting a report from sub-committee to take action to accord community rights to tribal people in accordance with the Forest Rights Act 2005, he added.
Mr. Anjaneya said that the government was keen on opening social welfare offices in all taluk headquarters and filling vacant posts in the department.
“The government has earmarked Rs. 2,480 crore in the budget for the uplift of tribal people under the Tribal Special Component Plan,” he said.
The government has earmarked Rs. 125 crore to provide basic amenities in tribal settlements and Rs. 25 crore for the construction of Valmiki Bhavans.
Regretting that money earmarked for the uplift of Scheduled Tribes had not been utilised by the BJP government, he said that the Congress government will take steps to spend the money allocated by both the Union government and the State. He said that the Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti will be celebrated on a grand scale at the Banquet Hall of Vidhana Soudha with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurating the event. “A selection committee will finalise the Valmiki award by Thursday,” he said.
