CM to inaugurate convention of tribals in Mysuru on Feb 1

The state government has organised a tribal’s convention in Mysuru on February 1, which will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya told mediapersons here on Saturday that the convention had been organised to bring deprived classes to the mainstream and create awareness in them about the government’s welfare schemes. The chief minister will also issue sanction letters to the beneficiaries of government’s schemes on the occasion.

The minister said that the state government had been providing rice, edible oil, ghee, salt, eggs, sugar and nutritious food under various schemes for 34,072 families in the state and the scheme had been extended to the tribals in Chikkamagaluru district. The government has issued identity cards to 4,640 families in the district for providing them with food products.

“In addition, cash prize of Rs 2,000, Rs 2,500, Rs 3,500 and Rs 4,500 will be paid to students, who have completed SSLC, PUC, degree and post-graduation respectively in the academic year 2016-17. The Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute (KSTRI), Mysuru, has been conducting training in tailoring, mobile repair, light vehicle driving and other skills for tribal youth,” Anjaneya said.

The minister said that he had instructed the respective district administrations to take measures for providing basic facilities at hamlets. The minister has visited the hamlets in seven districts to assess the living conditions there. “I will revisit the hamlets to get first hand information about the development activities,” Anjaneya said.

He said that it was not easy to prevent illegal sale of liquor without imposing total prohibition. The state government has been conducting awareness camps in hamlets to educate tribals about the ill-effects of liquor. Many tribal people have lost their life by consuming spurious liquor, said the minister.

Diddahalli evictions
Anjaneya said that the state government was prepared to rehabilitate the tribal people of Diddahalli hamlet in Kodagu district. The government has identified 30 acres of land at different places to develop layouts and the works will start soon, he said. “The authorities are conducting a survey of tribals residing in labour quarters. The government has provided lands to 1,467 families,” he said.