State’s apex tribal research institute under scanner for poor performance

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The institute is supposed to evaluate how various welfare schemes of the government for tribals have been implemented and suggest methods to improve the same.

Another important responsibility of the institution is to conduct training for various officers of the state’s tribal welfare department.

However, since its inception in 1962, the institute has conducted just 12 research studies. In the last five years, the institute has conducted only two research studies, according to a report by the state’s principal accountant general.

The report points out how, in one case, the institute undertook a study in 2006 that remained incomplete till 2014, although it was supposed to be completed in 40 weeks.

As far conducting social impact assessment of various welfare schemes of the state government is concerned, the institute could evaluate only 11 of the the 171 schemes launched during the period from 2009-12.

Senior officials at the institute, while speaking about these shortfalls, blamed the staff crunch. “Other than being short-staffed, skills necessary for conducting such studies are lacking in many cases. Often, officials appointed at the institute from other departments do not have the required skills,” said an official at the institute.

The strictures from the state’s principal accountant general come at a time when the state government plans to implement various new schemes for tribals.

In fact, in a recent meeting held by Minister for Tribal Welfare Vishnu Savara, instructions were given to reserve five per cent of local body funds for infrastructure in tribal areas.

Tribal rights activist Prathibha Shinde, who attended the meeting, said the government planned to engage outside agencies to audit the work done by the tribal welfare department.

“In the presence of an institution like TRTI, why should external agencies be employed? The government should provide TRTI with proper staff and equip then with necessary skills for conducting research,” she said.