Panaji: Claiming that the scheduled tribe community in Goa has been facing neglect, Aam Aadmi Party on Monday put fourth five major demands before Pramod Sawant-led government.
AAP Goa chief Amit Palekar told a press conference that it is shocking that Government fails to allocate 10 percent of Budgetary funds as mandated for ST community.
He was addressing a press conference at the backdrop of sacking of Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude after he alleged inefficiency and corruption in the Tribal Welfare Department headed by CM Pramod Sawant.
“Funds allocated under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) and other welfare schemes meant specifically for the ST community remain unutilised year after year,” he said.
AAP has alleged that these funds are either not allocated or sanctioned, diverted, returned unspent, or entangled in bureaucratic red tape while our tribal communities continue to suffer from poverty, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and lack of access to quality healthcare, education, and housing.
Putting up their five demands, the AAP has demanded immediate allocation, sanction and utilisation of pending tribal welfare funds and time-bound implementation of schemes.
The party has also demanded regular audit and public disclosure of TSP spending.
Palekar said that the scheduled tribe areas in Goa should notified and the forest rights should be recognised of this population.
Pointing out that there is no proper functioning of Tribal Advisory Council, Palekar said that the council should have representation from the tribal civil society.
The party has also demanded empowerment of tribal youth through education, skilling, and employment-linked programmes.
Palekar said that under Tribal Sub Plan, at least 10.23 per cent of budget should be allocated to the tribal community. “But only 4 percent amounting to Rs 1,200 cr has been allocated. We have seen that not more than Rs 300 cr is actually Sanctioned or spent for ST welfare,” he said.
