Masterplan to rehabilitate Adivasis

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT. 5. The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to replace the seven-member ombudspanel for local self-governments with a single member set-up.

The Chief Minister, Mr. A.K. Antony, told presspersons after the Cabinet meeting that the decision was taken to bring down Government expenditure.

The State Planning Board had recommended that the number of ombudsmen should be brought down to three or less. The Government decided that only one ombudsman was needed under the present circumstances in the State. Legislation would be brought to give effect to the decision.

The Chief Minister said that the Government would take long-term and short-term steps to solve the problems faced by the tribals. A meeting of the Collectors would be convened on September 11 to discuss short-term measures for improving the condition of tribals. The State Planning Board would be preparing a masterplan for long-term rehabilitation of the tribals.

Mr. Antony said that the representatives of the Cabinet would meet the leaders of tribals, including Ms. C.K. Janu, on Thursday to discuss their problems. Issues such as the alienation of their lands, unemployment and poverty would be discussed.

The Government recognised that there was starvation among tribals. The decline in the agriculture sector and unemployment had hit the tribals badly. The Government was determined to do the maximum to improve their conditions.

He said that the food-for-work programme would be carried out on a large scale for the benefit of the tribals. Schemes like the Japanese-aided tribal development project at Attappady would be revamped with increased participation of the tribals.

Asked how the Government was going to address the problem of corruption in the implementation of the programmes for tribals, the Chief Minister claimed that this could be achieved by increasing the participation of the tribals in project implementation.

He parried questions whether action would be taken against large- scale corruption that had taken place in the management of projects like the Sugandhagiri Cardamom Project.

He said the problem of extremism among tribals was not acute in the State. The situation was manageable.

He said the Government viewed the earthquakes and other natural phenomena occurring in the State and the need for research into it seriously. So far, the scientists could not arrive at any conclusion on the cause of various phenomena occurring in the State.

The differences in the Congress over the constitution of the KPCC, he said, were not serious. The Congress had the resilience to survive even bigger problems. The present problems were only temporary.

He admitted that youth were not joining the party now. That problem needed to be addressed.

Asked about the record sale of liquor during Onam this year, the Chief Minister said the Government had set a record in preventing distribution of illicit liquor during the festival season.

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