A nine-member team from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) led by its chairperson Dr Nand Kumar Sai and accompanied by its vice-chairman, other members and senior officials on Wednesday visited Kokrajhar to assess the implementation of various centrally-sponsored schemes in tribal dominated areas.
The team visited several areas including the agriculture department office at Titaguri, Central Institute of Technology situated at Balajan, Public Health Engineering Pipe Water Scheme at Balajan Tinali, VHND site at Bhag Amguri sub-centre and MMU camp at Karigaon.
The team also visited Kasturba Gandh Balika Vidyalay at Patgaon, Tribal RCH camp at Bishmuri, Simbargaon Pipe Water Supply, Simbargaon state dispensary and Debargaon Higher Secondary School to access the overall assessment in health, agriculture, education, PHE, etc. in the tribal areas.
The team later held a review meeting with senior civil and police officials along with department heads and the BTC authority at the Kokrajhar Circuit House.
The team included NCST chairperson Dr Nand Kumar, vice-chairperson Anusuiya Uikey, joint secretary Siser Kumar Ratho, deputy secretary PT Jamesscutty, assistant director SP Meena and honorary adviser to the chairperson, Satyadeo Sharma.
BTC deputy chief Kampa Borgoyary, BTC executive members Doneswar Goyary, Rajib Kumar Brahma, Lwmsrao Daimary, former Lok Sabha P Sansuma Kunggur Bwiswmuthiary were also present in the meeting.
Later talking to reporters, Sai stressed the need for better education for the development of backward tribal communities, besides generating employment opportunities.
“Agriculture and horticulture will also help the uplift of tribal people and their economy,” he said.
Stating that education is a must for development, he said upgrading the Central Institute of Technology(CIT) into a full-fledged university will be helpful to the underdeveloped students coming from ST, SC and OBC in this part of the region. He assured to take up the issue with the higher authority in the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry.
The chairperson of NCST also said giving adequate power to the tribal autonomous councils, including in sixth scheduled areas will also facilitate in the development of tribal people.
On the illegal encroachment in tribal belts and blocks in Assam, Sai expressed serious concern on the issue saying, “No tribal land can be encroached or purchased by any non-tribals”. He assured to take up the issue seriously.
On the total 12,155 numbers of backlogs vacancies meant for ST(P) and ST(H) in various departments of Assam, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes chairman said they will take up the issue with the Chief Minister.
He also opined his strong voice on the racial discrimination against the tribal people.
The team will visit Chirang on Thursday.