Report: Sanjay Borkar
Daijiworld Media Network - Madgao (SP)

Ponda, Jun 29: Coming out with a good news for the scheduled caste and tribe communities in the state, Goa chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Sunday June 28, announced that for the welfare of these people a separate ‘tribal welfare department’ will be established very soon in the state and that thereafter, the Tribal Commission will be formed. He was speaking at a programme held at Ponda.

Speaking in the capacity of the chief guest at the first S T Vikasa Parishad, organized by United Tribals Association (UTTA) in association with the department of Information and Publicity, at Farmagudi Ponda, the Chief Minister said that establishing this department will help this community to develop.

Ramesh Tawadkar, MLA and convenor of UTTA was present on the occasion.

He further assured them that the government will sincerely work to solve the problems and try to meet the demands of ST community.

He promised them that the state will actively pursue issues concerning their welfare, wherever the union government is also involved, expeditiously.

The establishment of the tribal welfare department and S T commission will help to cease the problems faced by this community and will help in various aspects, he said further and appealed to UTTA to finalize the model best suited for them, before establishing the S T Commission, for which he said that a cabinet decision has already been taken by the government.

The Chief Minister admitted that in spite of having been conferred the status of ST in 2003, enough efforts were not made to resolve the issues and mitigate the woes of this community. He took credit for the positive outlook his government is having on this issue, towards working for the improvement of the living conditions of the weaker sections of the society. 

MLA Ramesh Tawadkar in his speech, said that the first ever S T Vikasa Parishad in Goa will mainly focus on education, tribal sub-plan, social empowerment and land issues.

Tawadkar also demanded that a Tribal Rehabilitation Centre be established in Goa for the empowerment of ST people and also urged for the proper implementation of the Tribal Forest Act.

Prakash Velip, president of UTTA, welcomed the gathering and Govind Gawade, co-convener, proposed vote of thanks.