J&K to adopt best practices of Goa for Welfare, development of Tribals: Zulfkar

Both states to initiate Tribal Cultural Exchange Programmes

          Goa Oct 30: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today said that Jammu and Kashmir Government will adopt and replicate best practices being espoused by Goa administration for welfare and development of Tribal population.

          Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, who is on a study tour to Goa, called upon Goa’s Minister for Tribal Welfare , Art , Culture , Civil Supplies and Price Control Department, Govind Gaude, and discussed various issues related to Tribal welfare and Civil supplies.

       The Minister appreciated Tribal Department of Goa for taking various innovative steps for welfare of the people of tribal community. “We will deeply study and examine the best practices being exercised by Goa Government in respect of tribal affairs and Civil Supplies so that are replicated in our state for larger interest of tribal community and the consumers community”, he added.

Both the Ministers agreed to start Tribal Cultural Exchange Programmes for which modalities will be worked out and finalized soon. The cultural exchange programmes will provide exposure to the tribal population of both the states for their betterment.

Earlier, Goa Minister briefed Zulfkar Ali about various reformative steps being taken up by his government for improving the living standards of tribal population. He elaborated on several measures which inter alia include effective enforcement of Constitutional Rights of Tribals, impetus to implementation of various schemes and programmes envisaging their welfare and development, focus on protection and empowerment of ST's, strict implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act, implementation of Tribal Sub Plan thoroughly, training and capacity building among Tribals and reaching out to the Tribals living in remote and unreachable areas.

          Referring to schemes meant for Tribal’s development, Goa Minister said that 2 Central schemes and 19 State schemes are being implemented in the state for welfare of tribal people like Vocational Training Centres in Tribal Areas, National Overseas Scholarships for Scheduled Tribe Students, National Fellowship for ST Students,  Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) for ST students, Scheme of Hostels for ST boys and ST Girls, Pre and Post Matric scholarship, establishment of Ashram Schools in Tribal Sub-Plan Areas,  Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan (SCA to TSP), Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India, Eklavya Model Residential School,  Development of Forest Village, Scheme of Coaching for Scheduled Tribes, Scheme of Grant in Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for welfare of STs, Scheme of Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTGs), Schemes of strengthening education among Scheduled Tribes Girls in a low literacy Districts besides Vocational Training Centres in Tribal Areas.

          He also briefed Minister about Vidya Laxmi  scheme which  is aimed at to promote education among girl students of ST communities, Grants to Voluntary Organizations for running hostels,  financial assistance to ST Community students undergoing different Courses in Nursing such as Home Nursing Cource , Diploma course in Nursing , Degree in Nursing, Prashikshan Yatra- Scheme to provide financial assistance for conducting study tours for ST students, assistance to ST Students under “GAGAN BHARARI SHIKSHA YOJANA”, Financial Assistance for Construction of New Houses and Repairs under “Atal Asra Yojana” , scheme to support Orphan child / children of Widow belonging to ST community, Dearness Allowance to Housewives to address the problem of spiraling prices, Financial Assistance to ST people in Natural Calamities, Land acquisition for construction of Houses for ST people residing in Forest Areas, Construction of Tribal Bhavan and setting up of Tribal Research Institutes.

          The Goa Minister also briefed about various activities being taken up to improve the working of Civil Supplies and Price Control Department. He told about electronic public distribution system and automation of Fair Price Shops in Goa.

          Zulfkar Ali said that Jammu & Kashmir Government is committed to take certain steps for welfare of tribal community for which the government for the first time after Independence created Tribal Ministry especially for the welfare of tribals in the state.