Chairman, National Scheduled Tribe Commission, Dr. Rameshwar Oraon stressed on further development of infrastructures in ST areas in Uttarakhand. He said that after visiting several ST areas he had observed that there was still shortage of teachers in schools and doctorcccccs in hospitals and there was need for education till Intermediate from 8th standard onwards. He revealed that the people had demanded for hostel facilities for ST girl students pursuing higher education in Dehradun. He asserted that if land was provided by the State Government then he would pursue the Central Government for construction of the hostel building.
Dr. Oraon observing that not every member of ST could be provided employment in government institutions said that efforts ought to be put to encourage them for self employment. He said that many things had been done for their welfare still lot was yet to be done. He also advocated providing marketing facilities for the produce of ST areas. Dr. Oraon said that besides, literacy programs, some vocational training programs should be launched to meet the problem of unemployment and bring them out of backwardness. He said that there was need to activate committees formed under Forest Right Act. The Chairman expected from the officers that problems pertaining to land security, right to their winter abodes and obtaining caste certificates would be resolved.
Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain said that suggestions made by the Commission would be followed. He pointed out that several welfare programs for STs had been implemented in the state and special attention was being given to ensure that all the ST members get benefits of development programs launched by the government.
Secretary, Social Welfare, Subardhan apprised that 5 Scheduled tribes viz. Bhotia, Tharu, Jaunsari, Boxa and Raji resided in Uttarakhand among which Boxa and Raji came under the category of ancient Schedule Tribe. He disclosed that Bhotia Tribe were found in Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts; Jaunsari in Dehradun; Tharu in Udham Singh Nagar; Boxa in Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Pauri and Dehradun; Raji in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts that too only in limited development blocks. Mr. Subardhan revealed that the State Government had constituted separate Directorate for implementation of development programs for STs and annual state budget for them was allocated as per their population. He pointed out that owing to benevolent communal environment; there was least incidents of their harassment in the state. They had been facilitated with 4 percent quota in government jobs, he said.
Also present in the meeting were Member, National ST Commission, BL Meena; K Kamla Kumari; Joint Secretary of the Commission Aditya Mishra and DGP BA Raghav Pant amongst others.