Tribal Issues-II

IMPORTANT STEPS TO ENSURE TRIBAL WELFARE EFFECTIVELY


A.Fund Flow
i) Mechanism for direct flow of funds to field formations (instead of the prevailing system through State Hqrs.) ;
ii) To link release of Plan funds with earmarking requisite 8% to TSP (in proportion to ST population of the country);
iii) Funds allotted under TSP to be treated as non-lapsable on the lines of grants- in-aid under SCA to TSP and Article 275(I) of the Constitution;
iv) Funds under SCA to TSP to be treated as non-divertible to areas/activities not connected with tribal development;
v) Grants for PTG to be released early to allow maximum period for implementation and assessment of performance/results.

B. Health Sector
(i) Relaxation of norms for setting up of Sub-Centers (2400 instead of 3000), PHCs ( 13,500 instead of 20,000) and CHC (55,000 instead of 80,000).
(ii) A Health Guide in each Village;
(iii) A Trained Birth Attendant in each Village;
(iv) Good accommodation and other incentives to doctors and para- medical staff in tribal areas;
(v) Awareness about Family Planning Programmes and Communicable Diseases;
(vi) Priority to local ST boys & girls in appointment as Health Workers;
(vii) All CHCs to have Operation Theatres;
(viii) Provide one Ambulance Vehicle in each CHC;
(ix) Mandatory for each tribal doctor to serve initially in tribal area for a minimum period of 3 years;
(x) Concessions / weightage in promotion to those tribal doctors/ para medical staff who have served in tribal areas.

C. Education Sector
(i) Awareness campaign to be launched;
(ii) To provide at least 2 teachers in Primary School;
(iii) Funds meant for education not to be diverted;
(iv) State Government to be advised:
a. To open more Schools;
b. To appoint teachers from tribal communities and provide incentives;
(v) Proper maintenance of school hostels meant for SCs/STs;
(vi) Providing incentives to parents of girl child;
(vii) Starting Shiksha Karmi Projects in those States where ST education level is poor;
(viii) To have uniform educational and examination system in the country so that ST students do not get disadvantaged.
(ix) Make use of visual media in distance learning effectively for tribals,
(x) Providing economic incentives to parents for Schooling of their Children.
(xi) Raising income ceiling levels for Post- Matric Scholarship from Rs. 1 Lakh to Rs. 2 Lakh per annum and also to raise Scholarship amount;
(xii) Dissemination of information through Websites of respective Tribal Welfare Departments ;
(xiii) Early disbursement of scholarships to students and if possible through their Bank Accounts;
(xiv) Provision for financial assistance for pre-admission coaching of ST student for Management and Technical Courses.
(xv) Providing one set of books to each student in Degree Courses on the lines of Post Graduate Professional Courses;
(xvi) Making all Eklavya Model Residential Schools completely functional
(xvii) Opening Schools of Excellence in Tribal areas;
(xviii) Scope of reservation for ST to cover Schools receiving Government concessions in various forms;
(xix) 7.5% reservation for STs in awarding fellowship and scholarships
(xx) 7.5% reservation in Schools & College hostels

D Resettlement and Rehabilitation of Displaced Tribal People
i) Need for Central Legislation, either exclusive or as part of Land Acquisition Act 1894;
ii) The Resettlement & Rehabilitation Package to provide for :-
a) Giving similar quality & legal status as the land from where displaced or providing compensation to the satisfaction of the displaced persons;
b) Stable livelihood to all members of displaced families.
iii) The State Govt. to ensure :-
a) Finalization of Resettlement & Rehabilitation Package before commencement of Acquisition process;
b) Compensation Rates based on market rates at the time of Acquisition and the enhanced value on account of industrial status rather than the rates of old registries;
c) Minimum displacement of Tribals and their resettlement & rehabilitation in the tribal belts only to protect their cultural heritage;
d) Preference by Project/Industry Authorities to affected tribal families for running tea-shops/ snack-bars/ canteens in the Project area;
e) The tribal families cultivating the assigned lands for 10 years or more are treated on par withholders of patas or those having ancestral land.

E Misllaneous
i) Enhancement of amount of construction Dwelling units under Indira Awas Yojna (from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000 per unit in plain areas, and from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 75,000 per unit in hilly areas);
ii) Data base regarding tribal habitations without road connectively and time bound programme to provide roads to such habitations with the involvement of Local Bodies, also to do metalling of all approach roads;
iii) Devise effective mechanism to prevent black marketing of PDS items in order to ensure adequate supply to poor families;
iv) Status of implementation of Prime Minister’s announcement made on 15th August 2002 regarding Drinking water Supply with reference to Tribal Areas;
v) Survey to identify Tribal areas yet to be covered under Drinking Water Supply Schemes;
vi) Proper monitoring of the work regarding sanitary latrines;
vii) Maintenances of Separate data by each State on the Rural employment guarantee Scheme for effective monitoring;