Tribal uplift project launched in A.P.

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, NOV. 24. STEP, a Rs. 58-crore European Union-funded project, aimed at sustainable empowerment of two lakh tribals in four coastal districts, was launched by the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, here today.

Acronym for Sustainable Tribal Empowerment Project, it is a holistic development model aimed at helping the community to help themselves for bettering their lives. The EU funds a lion's share of the project cost with CARE India chipping in with the rest.

CARE India will implement the project in tandem with the NGOs and the Government of Andhra Pradesh in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts over a five-year time frame.

On hand at the CM's office where the project was launched were a number of Ministers, Messrs. Pascal Lamy, Commissioner, Trade & Commerce, EU, MM Joe Cunnane, EU, New Delhi, Will Day, CARE international, UK, Tom Alecedo, Country Director, CARE India, and a host of other EU, CARE officials, senior Secretaries of the State Government and others.

Welcoming the EC-Care initiative to help the most disadvantaged people, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu suggested that the project life be reduced to three years and its scope widened to cover tribals in other districts and areas such as West Godavari, Khammam, Adilabad and Srisailam in order to hasten development.

Mr. Naidu said tribals, who lived in remote and inaccessible forest areas, deserved this project the most since they were a disadvantaged lot even among the weaker sections.

He referred to his Government's initiatives in tribal uplift - network of schools, residential institutions, primary health centres, participatory management of forest resources like Vana Samrakshana Samitis and the latest Rs. 87-crore coffee plantation scheme - and said the situation was conducive for launching of another major project like STEP.

Mr. Lamy said EU had a development cooperation with India with commitments to a tune of more than Rs. 4 crores. These included 130 projects implemented through NGOs, A.P. accounting for 15 of them. Landmark projects in the State related to disaster prevention in coastal areas, child labour and `back to school' and food aid for street children etc.

The kind of `sound policies' that the State Government was pursuing, he felt, were the best guarantee for creating stability, ensuring access to education, encouraging savings and achieving progress.

Mr. K. Gopalan, Director, CARE, A.P., who welcomed, outlined the salient features of the project. The Chief Minister had a brief interaction with Collectors of the four districts and select women beneficiaries of the project.

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Section  : Southern States
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