Modi asks UPA govt to grant land ownership to Guj tribals

Dahod, Gujarat, Aug 10 (UNI) Chief Minister Narendra Modi today gave an ultimatum to the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre to grant land ownership to landless tribals of Gujarat.

''If the Central government does not grant land ownership to tribals in our state, then we will start granting them the same on October 2'', Mr Modi said while addressing a women's convention in the tribal town of Dahod, 200 km away from the state capital of Gandhinagar.

Mr Modi announced a Rs 13 crore grant for the education of the girl child. He distributed 1.15 crore worth prizes to 9000 girl students of Limkheda in Dahod district. Each girl student received a scholarship of Rs 5000.

The Chief Minister also announced a Rs 15,000 crore tribal welfare package for 43 talukas. He said his government had spent Rs 6,000 crore till 2001, and Rs 6200 crore in the past five years.

''We will spend another Rs 15,000 crore for the overall welfare of tribals in the state in the next five years,'' Modi added.

UNI