Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Tribal Welfare Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues visited families of the two tribal leaders who were killed during a tribal agitation on May 25 in Balli village, 60 km from Panaji.
The duo visited the families of Manguesh Gaonkar in Canacona and Dilip Velip in Quepem in South Goa yesterday and sympathised with the bereaved families, an official release said.
A cheque of Rs five lakh each was handed over to the families of the deceased by the Chief Minister, who also assured employment for eligible persons in the families on top priority basis, the release said.
Reiterating that his government was ready to help scheduled tribes and give whatever support needed for the community, Mr. Kamat said the government had virtually met all demands put forth by the United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA), including earmarking 12 per cent of total State plan outlay for tribal sub plan and a special recruitment drive in government departments for scheduled tribes.
Besides, no land owned by scheduled tribes would be permitted to be sold to non-tribal people, he added.
Later, the Chief Minister visited the Adarsh Co-operative Society and Anchal Cashew factory at Balli and saw the damage caused during the agitation.
President of UTAA Prakash Velip was also present on the occasion.
On May 25, around 10,000 people from Scheduled Tribes had blocked the NH-17 demanding implementation of reservation in government jobs, among other issues. The agitation turned violent when police, along with locals, began thrashing the tribals.
Tribal leaders - Gaonkar and Velip - were burnt to death in a nearby Cashew factory.
