Govt preparing road map for tribal welfare: Union Minister Arjun Munda

Seraikela: Union Minister for Tribal Welfare Affairs Arjun Munda today said that a road map is being prepared for the all-round development of the deprived tribals. Talking to the media at Seraikela circuit house, Union Minister further said that in a joint meeting with Forest and Environment Development Minister Prakash Javadekar and Tribal Welfare Ministry, a strategy has been chalked out on the development of deprived tribals belonging to forest area. Instructions were given for the speedy execution of the application received for community lease and personal lease under the Forest Rights Act.

Also, while deciding the role of Gram Sabha, instructions were also given to increase awareness among the villagers. Initiative of biodiversity conservation and development in the village area and forest area is being taken through the villagers. The program is being started in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry Welfare of the Government of India to provide more and more information about the Forest Rights Act to the forest dependent tribals associated with the forest area and to make them aware of their rights. He said that the basic cultivation of the district requires about 1500 mm of rainfall every year. Due to the continuously decreasing forest area, rain is also decreasing.

With the empowerment of the gram sabha, the awareness of the villagers is being strengthened to deal with this worrying topic. At the same time, the entire program is being made employable for the local villagers through the gram sabha, in view of almost all the human use materials coming from the fields or from the forest area.

The Union Minister for Tribal Welfare consulted Deputy Commissioner Iqbal Alam Ansari and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Arshi regarding the progress of programs related to tribal welfare in the district.