ANANTNAG: The Department of Tribal Affairs today organized an awareness camp cum workshop at Dakbungalow Khanabal to spread awareness regarding the schemes in vogue for the betterment of scheduled tribes in UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
The awareness camp cum workshop was attended by DDC Chairman, DDC members, BDC chairpersons, Principals of GDCs, HSSs, ITIs, CEO, ZEOs, faculty members from various institutions among others.
Speaking on the occasion, Javaid Ahmad said that the aim of conducting this awareness camp is to disseminate information about the schemes meant for the betterment of scheduled tribes to the heads of educational institutions. Apprising the chair, he said that there are 12 schemes in vogue for the development of the ST community at present.
He said that the Department of Tribal Affairs is adopting two cluster villages with sizable ST population in each district for accelerated development. He added that in every sector including health, education, power and water supply, road connectivity, skill upgradation, etc special emphasis is being given on ensuring the benefits percolate to the tribal communities.
He said that 20 ambulances have been provided to the health department for servicing remote areas with sizable ST population and 30 hostels are functioning to ensure that students from the tribal communities can attend higher educational institutions away from home.
The chair was informed that pre and post matric scholarships are being enhanced so that more ST students will be covered besides tribal festivals are being organised to celebrate the tribal culture.
Several PRIs attended the workshop and put forth demands including inclusion of all castes of forest dwellers in ST community.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag, Dr Basharat Qayoom while speaking on the occasion said that it is the moral and legal duty of the heads of institutions to aware and enroll the ST students in various schemes.
He said that various initiatives are being taken for the upliftment of ST community viz. census of migratory population, providing mobile teachers, transportation facilities, tribal awards, organising tribal festivals, skill development trainings, scholarship schemes, organising awareness camps etc. He said that the aim of organising such awareness camps is to ensure that every member of the ST community can access the benefits available through schemes in vogue.
The DC said that the issues raised will be taken up with the higher authorities and directed the revenue officials and heads of educational institutions to speed up the process for enrollment of ST students in scholarship schemes.