Panaji: Chairperson of National Commission for Schedule Tribe (NCST) Antar Singh Arya on Wednesday urged Goa government to work towards giving land ownership to the tribals, who have been cultivating the lands for years together.
During his two-day-long visit, Arya interacted with various stakeholders of Tribal rights to understand the ground realities in the coastal state.
Talking to reporters, Arya said that he also met Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai and Chief minister Pramod Sawant during his visit.
He said that the coastal state has developed since its liberation from Portuguese rule in the year 1961. “Goa is doing well on all the fronts,” Arya said.
“But as far as land ownership of the tribals is concerned, they are still dependent on the landlords. Even if they want to construct a house on the land which they have been cultivating for years, they have to get No Objection Certificate from the landlords,” he added.
The Chairperson pointed out that some of the tribals are cultivating these lands for more than hundred years, but still don’t have ownership rights over it.
“In absence of ownership rights, they are kept away from various schemes of central and state government,” he said.
Arya said that during his visit to Goa, he discussed this issue with State chief secretary Dr. V. Candavelou urging him to find the solution for this vexed issue.
He said that the tribals should get right over their land.
Speaking further, Arya said that he has interacted with various individuals and also the Non Government organisations which are working for the tribal welfare.
The Chairperson said that during submission of the annual action taken report, which is submitted to the President of India Draupadi Murmu, the details of Goa would also be mentioned.
