Minister for Social Welfare H. Anjaneya on Friday said that a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister will soon be convened to resolve issues with regard to the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006.
He was speaking at the inauguration of Haadi Vaastavya (stay at a tribal hamlet) at Kerekadu, Padupanambur Gram Panchayat, near here.
Mr. Anjaneya said that vexed issues of title deeds to forest dwellers and other issues could be resolved during the meeting which would be attended by people’s representatives and officials from districts largely inhabited by tribal people, including Chamarajanagar, Mysuru, Kodagu, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada and Belagavi.
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Mr. Anjaneya said that the departments of Forest, Environment and Ecology and Social Welfare have to work in coordination for the betterment of tribal people. The Forest Department has been posing several hurdles to extend several welfare schemes to the tribal people in the name of Forest Conservation Act and many more, even though the department has set apart enough funds for those schemes. These issues too would be discussed at the high-level meeting, the Minister said.
The Minister said that he would interact with Koraga tribesmen of Kerekadu during the day and announce a package on Saturday. He would like to continue Haadi Vaastavya in all districts.
District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai said that legislation are for the benefit of people.
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He said that when he assumed the office as the Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology, only about 17 per cent of forest dwellers had submitted applications for regularisation. He is attempting to provide facilities to more people.
On the occasion, the Ministers handed over several benefits to the tribal people.
They included 17 title deeds under the Forest Dwellers Act; 11 title deeds under Akrama-Sakrama and disbursement of Rs. 22 lakh for building houses; distribution of Rs. 2 lakh each subsidy for 14 Koraga beneficiaries to build houses; Rs. 25,000 each to 13 Male Kudiya beneficiaries to repair houses; Rs. 2 lakh each to five Male Kudiyas under self-employment scheme to buy vehicles; Rs. 25,000 worth agricultural equipment each to four Male Kudiyas; approval to build community hall at Kerekadu at a cost of Rs. 12 lakh and distribution of RTCs for 19 tribal people for 19 acres of agricultural land at Puthige village by Maharshi Valmiki Development Corporation.
MLC Ivan D’ Souza, Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer P.I. Sreevidya were present.