Govt working tirelessly for holistic devp of tribal communities, says LG

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Sunday said the government is working tirelessly for the holistic development of tribal communities and promoting entrepreneurship among the youth and women.

The LG conferred the first-ever UT-level Tribal Awards at SKICC here and felicitated individuals and institutions for their exemplary services to tribal welfare and achievements in the field of sports, education, culture, literature and science and technology.

“Extremely proud to have participated in the first-ever UT level Tribal Awards Ceremony. This initiative to acknowledge the achievements and services of the community will encourage many more to work for the welfare of the others,” he said.

Highlighting the measures taken by the government for the welfare of J-K’s tribal community, Sinha said the Union Territory administration is working tirelessly for the holistic development of tribal communities, promoting entrepreneurship amongst tribal youth and women, transforming tribal schools, village development, tourism and implementing Van Dhan for their empowerment.

The Lt Governor announced that 500 tribal youths will be trained under the Financial Literacy Programme proposed by Bombay Stock Exchange and Punjab National Bank.

For sustainable livelihood of the youth, the administration has set up mini sheep farms in the tribal areas. Efforts are being made to link the tribal youth with the dairy sector. Besides, programmes of skill development and vocational training has been launched to bring a large population into the mainstream economy, Sinha said.

The government is also starting 1500 Van Dhan Self Help Groups to make women of the tribal community financially independent and empowered, he said.

On the occasion, MoUs were signed between Tribal Affairs department, IIT Jammu and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University in Rajouri for establishing Tribal Chair in both the institutes.

The Lt Governor termed the establishment of Tribal Chairs a milestone in academic research and preserving the cultural heritage of the tribal community.

He said Tribal Research Institute in J-K is preserving tribal cultural heritage, felicitating outstanding achievers from tribal communities, identifying problems related to tribals, pursuing research activities for capacity building to fully realize their potential.

We have evolved an effective and comprehensive strategy, being executed at grassroots level, for enhancing income of tribal families and providing life-fulfilling opportunities to youth, best possible medical care facilities and bringing each family under social security net, he said.

Sinha said for the first time in history, ASHA health workers from the tribal community are being appointed to work for the health care of the population living in the high pasture region during the summer season.

The government has launched Tele-medicine scheme to reach out to tribal population living in far flung areas with the services of specialist doctors. In addition to the Tribal Health Plan started last year, Tele Medicine and Mobile Medical Care Unit will bring much needed transformation in health care of tribal families, he noted.

The Lt Governor observed that in the last two years, the UT government has worked towards achieving a balanced development of infrastructure as well as the human resources through a host of unprecedented policy decisions, schemes and programmes.

Terming education as the most potent tool for the progress of tribal communities, the Lt Governor said budget for scholarship has been increased to Rs.45 crore from the last year’s Rs.31 Crore.

Lauding the efforts of officials of the Tribal Affairs Department of the UT, the Lt Governor called upon the department to focus on convergence of all available welfare schemes so that maximum benefits are percolated at the grassroots level.

Sinha also flagged off 41 Ambulances for different cluster tribal villages.

Meanwhile, he said that the government’s prime objective is to protect nature and strike a “balance” between development and protection of precious civilizational legacy.

Sinha said this while chairing the third meeting of Wildlife Board for the UT of J&K at Raj Bhawan here.
Various issues related to strengthening of measures to protect wildlife and rich ecological diversity were discussed at length, and key decisions were taken.

The meeting deliberated on important development proposals, issues related to human-wildlife conflict and the need for better coordination and effective actions to ensure that not even a single life is lost.

Directions were passed to the wildlife department to make a comprehensive strategy and increase awareness, especially amongst the population vulnerable to human-wildlife conflict.

The government’s prime objective is to protect Mother Nature and strike a balance between development & protection of precious civilizational legacy, he said.

Participation of local community is significant for the protection of biodiversity, wildlife conservation in an effective manner, promotion of nature tourism and wildlife tourism which provides employment and livelihood opportunities to local people, Sinha said.

While reviewing the implementation of Forest Rights Act, the LG directed the functionaries concerned to complete the process of granting forest rights, especially at the individual level in a time bound manner.

He also enquired about the status of high altitude national park at Kishtwar and the functioning of control rooms, and directed the chief wildlife warden, J&K, to make on-ground assessment of the status of the ongoing work of Jambu Zoo.

During the meeting, the Board members gave their valuable suggestions for conservation of wildlife and the measures to protect endangered species, promoting trekking routes, rationalizing the staff, digitization of services, fire prevention efforts and sensitization of local population.