'Centre to draw up strategy to empower tribals'

MARGAO: Union minister for tribal affairs Joel Oram on Friday stated that the government of India is committed to drawing up a strategy to empower tribals to ensure their welfare and well being and provide sustainable development while preserving their unique identity and culture.
Oram made this statement while inaugurating a two-day regional consultation with state governments and union territories (UTs) of Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Daman and Diu on tribal affairs.The programme held in a private hotel at Varca was jointly organized by Union ministry of tribal affairs and department for international development (DFID). Union minister of state for tribal affairs Mansukhbhai Vasava expressed concern that even though focused efforts have been made for the development of tribals over the years, the desired outcomes have not been achieved.
Ramesh Tawadkar, minister of sports, youth and tribal affairs, explained in detail efforts made by the state government in improving the overall scenario of tribal population in the state. Tawadkar added that he would strive to make Goa a role model state in the country in implementing ST development schemes and added that in the last two years Goa government had implemented 17 such schemes. He thanked the central goverment for organizing the consultation in Goa which he said, indicates the importance given to the tribal development in the region. He also expressed the need to have political reservation for the ST community in the state and country.