&w=3840&q=100)
Centre has allocated ₹79,000 crore for tribal welfare: Minister Jual Oram
Participating in an awareness programme under the Dharti Aaba Janabhagidari Abhiyan at Sanguem in South Goa, he said that the earlier Congress government never recognised that the problems faced by the tribal communities could be different from the other sections of society.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and State Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Desai also attended the event.
It was only after the BJP came to power (in 2014) that a separate ministry was created for tribal welfare with a sizable budget, said the 64-year-old tribal leader from Odisha.
He said that the initial budget for the ministry was ₹8,000 crore.
Sometimes, I have sleepless nights. We have a huge budget of ₹79,000 crore. This budget has to be utilised by the state governments for the welfare of tribal communities in their respective states, he said.
The Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (also referred to as Pradhan Mantri Dharati Aaba Abhiyan) was launched on October 2, 2024, marking the 150th birth anniveary of tribal freedom fighter Bi₹a Munda. It aims to comprehensively uplift tribal villages across India.
The minister said that the scheme has been allocated the funds, covering 17 ministries that will work together to develop tribal villages. PM Awas Yojana (for homes) would be fully saturated, while a rural road network of 25,000 km will be constructed. Every tribal village will be connected with tap water under the Nal Se Jal' programme, he said.
Oram said that network connectivity and mobile medical units will be launched in tribal villages. These units will also have the equipment to detect cancer and other diseases. These mobile medical units will be parked at weekly markets where they will screen people, he said.
Under the central scheme, he said, funds can be allotted to state tribal corporations and tribal finance corporations that can provide scholarships to tribal students and expedite cases concerning the Forest Rights Act.
He congratulated CM Sawant for retaining the tribal welfare ministry with him. Usually, a CM does not keep the tribal welfare ministry, said the Union minister. This shows how much he is concerned for the tribals, he said.
CM Sawant said it is in the BJP's DNA to work for the welfare of tribals. He said that though he has no blood relations with the tribals, he has an emotional and social bond with the community.
Sawant said that the state government has worked towards the welfare of tribals over the past three yea₹. He said a Tribal Research Centre has been established to understand the problems of this community.
They will study health-related issues and also understand the tribal culture, he said.
Sawant said that the state is working towards establishing a tribal museum.
The tribal Kunbi saree is being promoted by my government, and I'm proud of it, he said. A Kunbi village will be set up at Sanguem at a cost of ₹10 crore in the next three months, he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
10 minutes ago
- Time of India
BJP closing schools, opening liquor shops, says Akhilesh
Varanasi: president on Thursday said the UP govt was destroying the future of children in the state by shutting thousands of primary schools. "It is shocking how thousands of schools are being shut by govt but there is no constraint on opening of new liquor shops all over the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The two developments showcase BJP's priorities," he said while inaugurating the party's office-cum-residence in Azamgarh. He said the BJP was out to humiliate and disrespect the PDA community. SP has named the new office building as PDA Bhawan. "This PDA is the same community that Babasaheb (AMbedkar) fought for and is often referred to as Bahujan Samaj. This PDA also stands for the 'peedit' (aggrieved), 'dukhi' (victimised) and apmaanit' (humiliated). This is our broader social alliance for which we ensure complete social justice," Akhilesh said. In the political circles, Akhilesh inaugurating the new office building was seen as SP blowing the bugle for the 2027 UP polls, as the SP chief not only set the target for cadre to ensure PDA's victory on all seats from Ghaziabad to Sonbhadra, but went on to announce 300 units free electricity to every family, iPads and Samajwadi pension of Rs 3,000 for women if the party forms next govt in UP. He also assured termination of Central govt's Agniveer scheme and strengthening of border security. He outlined how Azamgarh had been a home for SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and sitting MP Dharmendra Yadav and how people of the district and the region have backed the SP in every parliamentary and assembly elections. Akhilesh recalled how Mulayam Singh had joined hands with BSP founder Kashi Ram when he spotted a supporter carrying a photograph of the two leaders. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "That photo has Netaji (Mulayam) and Kanshi Ram together. Think how significant that time was — when two ideologies stood side by side," he said recalling the coming together of Kanshi Ram and Mulayam Singh in the early 1990s to take on the BJP. While the event was held peacefully, some Brahmin families in the city installed black flags outside their houses on the call of a Brahmin organisation and Vishwa Hindu Mahasabha to protest against Akhilesh voicing his support to Yadav katha vachaks in Etawah who were allegedly humiliated by some upper caste members for reciting katha – a specialisation till now associated exclusively to the Brahmin community.
India Today
12 minutes ago
- India Today
BJP's Jagannath Pradhan arrested in connection with assault on Odisha bureaucrat
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jagannath Pradhan on Wednesday surrendered before the Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar, three days after the assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo. Pradhan, named as the prime accused in the case, was subsequently a video of the assault had gone viral online. The video showed Sahoo being manhandled by a group of men, who were heard abusing him while assaulting him inside the BMC office premises. The officer was also grabbed by the collar of his shirt and dragged outside the building by unidentified who contested unsuccessfully for the Bhubaneswar (Central) Assembly constituency in the 2024 General Elections, was named in the FIR lodged by Sahoo. He then surrendered amid pressure from the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association, which had demanded action in the case. Before surrendering, Pradhan addressed the media and denied involvement in the incident. "I have already condemned the attack. I reiterate that I had no role in the assault. This seems to be a politically motivated attempt to damage my reputation and target the State Government," he also expressed concern that the ongoing protests by the OAS Association could disrupt flood relief operations and upcoming festivals such as the Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besha. "If my arrest can help resolve the deadlock, I am willing to cooperate fully with the investigation," he reached the Bhubaneswar DCP office in the evening, accompanied by a group of supporters. Anticipating tensions, authorities stepped up security at the premises. Following his arrest, his supporters staged a dharna inside the DCP office and later blocked the road between Vani Vihar and Master Canteen as a mark of arrested BJP leader was taken to Capital Hospital for a routine medical check-up following his detention. Following this, the total number of people arrested in the case is now five individuals - Sanjeev Mishra, Sachikanta Swain, Jeevan Rout, Rashmi Ranjan Mahapatra, and Debasish Pradhan - were taken into custody for their alleged involvement in the attack on Odisha BJP unit also suspended all five of the arrested party workers. Those suspended include Corporator Aparup Narayan Rout alias Jeevan Rout, Rashmi Ranjan Mahapatra, Debasish Pradhan, Sachikanta Swain and Sanjeev Mishra.- Ends
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
28 minutes ago
- First Post
Delhi govt urges Centre to suspend fuel ban on old vehicles amid strong public backlash
The Delhi government on Thursday urged the Centre's air quality panel to immediately suspend the fuel ban on overage vehicles and said it will make 'all out efforts' to resolve issues related to restrictions on the movement of endoflife vehicles on city roads. read more The Delhi government on Thursday requested the Centre's air quality panel to immediately suspend the fuel ban on overage vehicles, assuring it would make 'all out efforts' to address concerns regarding restrictions on end-of-life vehicles operating on city roads. In a letter to Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) chairman Rajesh Verma, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the fuel ban was not practically feasible and posed technological hurdles to implementation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The request was made three days after the ban was enforced in the capital. No overage vehicle was impounded by traffic police or transport department officials on Thursday. Addressing a press conference, Sirsa said there was discontent among people due to the move, and the BJP government stood with them. #WATCH | Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa writes to the Commission for Air Quality Management to place on hold the direction which mandates the denial of fuel to End-of-Life (EOL) vehicles in Delhi He says, "We have informed them that the Automatic Number Plate… — ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2025 The minister also said the Delhi government was trying to find a solution to the problem caused by the ban on end-of-life vehicles that include 10-year-old and older diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that her government will make 'all-out efforts' for the resolution of problems related to the ban on end-of-life vehicles. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A 2018 Supreme Court judgment banned diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi. A 2014 National Green Tribunal order also prohibits the parking of vehicles aged over 15 years in public places. Gupta said some people are emotionally attached to vehicles if they are gifted by a person close to them. Such vehicles are just keepsakes, and often they are not driven much, she said at a Van Mahotsav programme organised by the Delhi government. About the fuel ban, Sirsa said the government was receiving complaints from people and, as such, has urged the CAQM to reconsider its direction. 'The daily lives and livelihoods of lakhs of citizens are dependent on these vehicles. The sudden denial of fuel supply has disrupted transportation, trade and personal mobility, causing significant inconvenience,' he said. 'We are trying to ensure the vehicles are not banned according to their age, but on the basis of pollution caused by them.' Citing various challenges and problems faced in implementing the ban on refuelling of overage vehicles since July 1, the minister said, 'We have told CAQM that we are not able to implement this.' In his letter to the CAQM chairperson, Sirsa also suggested that a fuel ban on overage vehicles should be implemented across the National Capital Region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He said there are several critical operational and infrastructural challenges in implementing the fuel ban, and the move could even be potentially counterproductive. 'Because of technological inconsistencies of this extremely complex system and lack of integration with neighbouring states, there is public discontent and outcry. In the said circumstances, it is not feasible to implement this system to end-of-life vehicles identified through ANPR cameras installed at petrol pumps in Delhi,' said the minister. He said that automated number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed at most of the fuel stations, but the system is facing problems like glitches, camera placement, sensor and speaker malfunction, which prevent the identification of the overage vehicles without high-security registration plates. The minister said the ban in Delhi will not serve its purpose as owners of overage vehicles may get fuel from NCR cities like Gurugram, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. The ANPR camera system is also not implemented in the neighbouring states, which will again be an issue when the fuel ban is implemented there. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sirsa, in his letter, listed several steps taken by the Delhi government to combat air pollution, including the implementation of a new pollution under control (PUC) certificate regime to ensure stricter compliance, particularly for out-of-state vehicles. The government is also trying to create a system that sends an SMS to the owners of overage vehicles two to three months ahead to plan a phase-out. 'We strongly urge the commission to put the implementation of its direction on hold with immediate effect till the ANPR system is seamlessly integrated across the entire national capital region,' he said. Sirsa also blamed the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi for enforcing the overage vehicle ban instead of challenging it before the court and the National Green Tribunal. The Opposition AAP said that public pressure forced the BJP government to withdraw the 'controversial' ban, calling it a 'victory of the people' and an example of the government's double standards on the court's orders. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a video message posted on X, Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said, 'Congratulations to the people of Delhi. The draconian order to seize old vehicles had to be withdrawn by Delhi's BJP government.' With inputs from agencies
