Minister denies new directive from Centre on tribal issue

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, OCT. 8. The Minister for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare, Dr. M.A. Kuttappan, clarified here on Monday that the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Mr. Jual Oram, had not given any fresh directive to the State Government on restoration of alienated tribal lands. He had only repeated the consistent stand of the Central Government on the issue.

It may be recalled that Mr. Oram had told presspersons after a meeting with Dr. Kuttappan that he had directed the State Government to restore alienated tribal lands.

Dr. Kuttappan said the Centre's stand was that the transfer of the land in favour of settlers, without permission from appropriate authorities, was illegal. ``Mr. Oram merely repeated this view and did not give any directive,'' Dr. Kuttappan maintained.

He said the State had asked for 10,000 hectares of forests or Rs. 70 crores for purchasing land to be given to the tribals in lieu of their alienated lands. The Union Minister said that money could not be given for such purposes. As to forest lands, the matter would have to be discussed with the Minister concerned.

Dr. Kuttappan said the Kerala Scheduled Tribes (Restriction on Transfer of Lands and Restoration of Alienated Lands) Act of 1975 had specified that the alienated lands should be restored. The settlers were to be provided with compensation by the tribals for improvements made by the former on the lands.

The 1999 Act which was brought at the initiative of various political parties provided for allocation of an equal area of alternative land to tribals in lieu of their alienated lands. If the area exceeded two hectares, the area in excess of two hectares was to be restored. The Act also provided for granting of one acre of land to all landless tribals. The aid sought from the Centre was for implementation of this Act. The Minister repeated the Centre's stand in response to this request.

However, the Centre had sanctioned Rs. 33 crores for other schemes, Mr. Kuttappan added.

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Section  : Southern States
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