HP to safeguard the interests of Scheduled tribes: CM

Shimla, Sept 5 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said his government would implement the provisions of Scheduled Tribe and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 to give them ownership rights of the land in their possession.

While presiding over the 9th meeting of the Sate Gaddi Welfare Board meeting here, he said 43 per cent of geographical area of the state was tribal area for which integrated Tribal Sub Plan was under implementation since 1974-75.

He said that the state government had earmarked nine percent of the annual budgetary provisions for the development of tribal areas.

Observing that development of the tribal areas and people was being accorded top priority by his government, he said the minimum support price of sheep wool has been fixed at Rs 35 per kg in spring season and Rs 25.50 per kg in winter season. The quality species of 1624 rams had been made available to the shepards by then State Wool Fed while 16 machines had been provided to collect the sheep wool.

The Chief Minister said the government had also authorised the gram panchayat pradhans and veterinary assistants to verify the mortality of the sheep and goat due to natural calamity. The compensation amount in such cases had also been revised upward so that maximum compensation was provided to the Gaddi community people for loss of their valuable sheep.

Mr Singh said the government was also explorring the possibility of boring a tunnel to connect Holi area of Bharmour Sub Division with Utrala in Baijnath (Kangra) with a view to connect both the areas with motorable roads round the year.

He directed the PWD to speed up construction work from both the sides so as to complete the same in a time bound manner and said that Manimahesh Yatra was also being made more convenient by creating wayside amenities and other required infrastructure facilities were also being made available to devotees visiting the sacred lake.

UNI