Chouhan annoucnes slew of measures for tribals in Adivasi panchayat

Bhopal, Jan 6: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today announced a slew of welfare measures for tribals during the first-ever 'adivasi panchayat' held in the state.

Mr Chouhan, while addressing the 'adivasi panchayat' at his residence here, announced scholarships and other facilities for tribal students, launching 'Kamdhenu' scheme for providing three milch animals each to tribal families in 11 districts, converting forest villages into revenue villages and a new Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojana.

An increase in the stipend for tribal students residing in tribal hostels and ashrams was declared benefitting one lakh students.

The amount was raised from Rs 350 to Rs 500 per month for boys and from Rs 360 to Rs 525 per month for girls putting additional financial burden of Rs 15.38 crore.

The state scholarship for students of IXth and Xth classes was doubled from Rs 30 to Rs 60 for boys and from Rs 40 to Rs 80 for girls.

It would benefit over three lakh tribal high-school students and entail an additional annual burden of Rs 10.45 crore.

Mr Chouhan announced to provide television sets with DTH facility to all 2,043 tribal hostels and ashrams at Rs four crore.

Accepting the suggestions made during the 'adivasi panchayat', the Chief Minister announced to provide a toilet kit to the inmates of tribal hostels and ashrams to maintain cleanliness there. It would mean an expenditure of Rs one crore. He announced construction of one community hall each in all 89 tribal block headquarters. Each of the building would cost Rs 25 lakh.

The incentive amount for tribals getting admission in XIth class would be increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000.

The facility of free school bags, sweaters, shoes, socks and uniforms -- being provided to all students of primitive tribes from class I to VII -- would be extended up to XIIth class.

About 1.15 lakh students would be benefitted and about Rs seven crore would be spent.

Besides, the Shankar Shah and the Rani Durgawati awards would be given to meritorious tribal boy and girl students.

Under the Shankar Shah award, three highest scorers of Xth Board examinations would be given first, second and third prizes comprising Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.

Similarly, students passing the XIIth examination would be given first award of Rs 30,000, second award of Rs 20,000 and third award of Rs 10,000.

Under the Rani Durgawati award, three prizes would be given to girl students on clearing Xth class examination. The first prize would carry Rs 20,000, second prize Rs 15,000 and the third prize Rs 10,000.

Tribal girls clearing XIIth class examination would be given first prize of Rs 30,000, second prize of Rs 20,000 and third prize of Rs 10,000. He said the state government would bear the expenditure on training to 10 tribal students at the country'ss reputed coaching institutions for Union Public Service Commission and other civil service examinations.

The foundation day of Madhya Pradesh on November 1 would be observed as Hostel Day in all the hostels. Functions would be organised on the occasion and would be attended by the parents of the students as well.

The Chief Minister said forest villages would be converted into revenue villages to remove the difficulties being experienced in construction of school, hospital buildings, drinking water arrangements and minor irrigation canals due to provisions of the the Forest Conservation Act.

A special campaign would be launched for bamboo plantation to augment livelihood opportunities for tribals. Under Haryali Mahotsava, over four crore bamboo saplings would be planted in 2007.

Mr Chouhan also announced the setting up of 50 new sub-health centres, 25 primary healthcare centres and eight community healthcare centres in tribal areas besides mobile hospitals in all 89 tribal blocks.

He said drinking water arrangement would be made in 8,000 predominantly tribal habitations having no drinking water source. Safe drinking water arrangement would be made in the habitations where there was excessive fluoride. A new Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojana was announced for houseless BPL families in rural areas under which over 15,000 houses would be built next year at a cost of about Rs 39 crore.

Besides, 25,000 wells would be constructed in the districts covered under the National Employment Guarantee Scheme and Rs 125 crore would be provided for this purpose.

Mr Chouhan said about 10,000 anganwadi centres would be set up in tribal areas in next couple of years at a cost of Rs 300 crore.

He informed that a special action plan would be implemented in 1,000 villages inhabited by primitive tribes including Saharia, Baiga and Bharia to free the children of upto six years from malnutrition.

The amount of research scholarship for tribal students conducting researches in higher education would be increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 per month.

The Chief Minister announced 'Kamdhenu' scheme for 11 districts to improve the economic lot of the tribals. Under this, financial assistance would be provided to tribal families to purchase three milch animals and fodder for them for three months.

Under the scheme, an assistance of up to Rs 72,000 would be provided. The milk produced by them would be procured through Dugdha Sangh.

He said 200 tribal children would be provided special technical training through Indo-German Tool. An expenditure of Rs 65,000 would be incurred on each trainee.

Training in advanced farming would be provided in tribal areas, which would cover bio-farming and operation of tractors and other farm implements.

After the training a kit of Rs 12,000 would also be provided to them. One Kisan Mitra and one Kisan Saheli would be selected and trained in all 89 tribal blocks. They would help farmers in agriculture extension works.

He announced to provide by-cycles free of cost to such girl students from next academic session who were studying in VIth class and in whose villages a middle-school did not exist. This would benefit about 32 tribal girls.

Mr Chouhan also announced the opening of a polytechnic each in Dindori and Umaria districts.

Under the Eklavya scheme, the polytechnics at Jhabha and Mandla would be strengthened. Tool kits would be provided to 5,000 trainees in the ITIs at a cost of Rs 14 crore. Computer training would be provided to 4,000 tribal students at the ITIs.

Among those who attended the 'adivasi' panchayat included the Tribal Welfare Minister Vijay Shah, Forest Minister Himmat Kothari, Jail Minister Antar Singh Arya and Minister of State for Fisheries Moti Kashyap besides over 3,000 tribals from all over the state.

UNI