GoM to finalise Tribal Bill soon, Kyndiah

Shillong, Nov 13 (UNI) A Group of Ministers (GoM) would meet soon to finalise the recommendations of a joint parliamentary committee on the Scheduled Tribes (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill, Minister for Tribal Affairs Patty Ripple Kyndiah has said.

The Bill seeks to grant the land rights to forest-dwelling tribal people, Mr Kyndiah told UNI here.

The GoM, headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, had expressed the need to make some changes to the Bill.

''The government is trying to make the Bill as comprehensive as possible,'' Mr Kyndiah said, adding that it would be taken up in next Cabinet meeting for its seal of approval.

Mr Kyndiah said the problems of forest dwelling tribes were critical and the new bill was to ensure their rights, as the Centre was keen to see that the land rights of the these dwellers were protected.

''Yes, I have heard about the criticism made by environmentalists on the provisions of the Bill,'' he said pointing out that the Bill will be confine to only those areas where tribals are accused as encroachers.

The GoM includes Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Environment and Forests Minister A Raja, Mr Kyndiah and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar.

The Union Minister, who was stripped of Development of North Eastern Region last month, said his aim now was to sort out the problems faced by the tribals in terms of development.

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