Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

Special initiatives for Tribal development :
Gujarat has sizeable Tribal population, but the Government has taken special
care for their development and progress. Though the threat of Naxalism has
affected many tribal areas in the country, progressive policies and concern
for equitable development of all has kept this menace at a distance from Gujarat.
The State, has recently launched an ambitious, Rs. 15,000 crore
"Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana" with the aim of upgrading the social and civil
infrastructure in this area at par with the rest of the State. The new approach
aims at doubling of the income of scheduled tribe families through various
innovative schemes and programmes like "Vadi Programme", dairy development
programmes etc. Also, this initiative will ensure quality science stream schools
and technical institutions in the area, bringing the state of art health facilities at
their door steps and providing such quality road, drinking water, electricity and
broadband facilities in this region as are available in the other areas of the
State. Special care has been taken to provide and upgrade urban infrastructure
in the Tribal areas which will become growth centres for such remote regions.
We are allocating more than adequate resources for the development of
ST population, but such intent is missing in some key schemes of the Central
Government. The guidelines of recently launched "Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana"
do not even mention the word Scheduled Tribe. Ministry of Agriculture has
ignored research in upland crops which would mainly have benefited ST farmers.
Similary, popular scheme of "Eklavya Model Residential Schools" for
promoting quality education facilities is not being expanded. Funding from
Government of India for ST development is constantly getting reduced from
8.9% of State's Tribal Area Sub Plan (TASP) budget in the year 2005-06 to
barely 4.3% last year. I request the Hon. Prime Minister to consider taking
urgent action on the approach of the central Ministries in this matter.
3. Promotion of feeling of security :
It is high time that the nation should learn to address issues concerning
the security of 100 crore citizens. We have to promote the sense of security
among all sections of the society without making any division on the basis of
minority and majority as the threat of terrorism has made all our citizen
vulnerable. The terrorist attacks, Naxal menace and illegal migration and
infiltration have exposed our citizens to insecurity of life and livelihood. Even
the minorities need protection and security against terrorism to lead their lives
with self respect.
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