tribals

Mysuru: April 26, 2016, DHNS:

Former principal secretary for social welfare E Venkataiah, on Monday, urged the district and taluk-level officials of Social Welfare and Scheduled Class Welfare departments to know more about their departments as well as their work.

After inaugurating a five-day training programme, organised for the officials by Karnataka State Tribals Research Institute (KSTRI), at Administrative Training Institute (ATI), here, Venkataiah said, “The government has introduced a variety of programmes and is funding extensively for the welfare of the deprived classes.”

“The officials should have extensive knowledge about their department, the schemes and other related development activities for the welfare of tribal people.

We are working for the poor and deprived classes in the society and our intention should be to bring these community people to the mainstream society,” he suggested.

Venkataiah, also advisor for Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), said the SCP/TSP had been streamlined and all the departments had been strictly told that the funds should be spent exclusively for the welfare of STs. “Any diversion of the funds would be viewed seriously by the government.

The officials who either misuse the funds or show negligence to utilise the available money would face disciplinary and criminal action. The state government has announced Rs 5,566 crore for tribal development under TSP and the funds should be utilised only for tribal welfare projects. Karnataka is in top position in the country in offering a variety of schemes and introducing programmes for the development of tribal people. So, the officials should utilise the opportunities to serve the people,” he suggested.

KSTRI Director T T Basavanagowda said, the State was home to 50 tribal communities. “These communities follow their own culture, tradition and lifestyle. Recently, 23 microscopic tribal communities were identified and the challenge before the government and authorities concerned is to bring these tribal people to the mainstream. The institute is conducting a variety of research works for the welfare of tribal people,” he said.

Anthropology professor at Karnataka University, Dharwad, C G Husain Khan, Tribal Research Officer S Prathiba and others were present.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/542692/misuse-tribal-welfare-fund-may.html