Displaced tribals should be compensated with land: Kyndiah

New Delhi, Aug 9 (UNI) The Government is finalising the National Tribal Policy to safeguard the interests of tribals and bring them into the mainstream.

The proposed policy would suggest measures for rehabilitation and resettlement of the tribals, Minister for Tribal Affairs P R Kyndiah today said at a function to celebrate 'World Indigenous Peoples Day', organised by the Indian Confederation of Indigenous and tribal people.

Highlighting the measures taken by the Government for the welfare of tribals, Mr Kyndiah said efforts were being made to spread schemes for the empowerment of tribals and reduce the gap in human development index of the tribal population and the general population so that they could be at par by 2020.

''Wherever displacement of tribals is caused, they will be taken into confidence and compensated with land. If large-scale displacement is involved, the project will be reconsidered to minimise the displacement,'' he added.

Mr Kyndiah also informed that the Government has to finalise rules for the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act.

With the implementation of the Act, traditional forest dwellers and Scheduled Tribes would become owners of their land and have access to the forest resources.

UNI