NASHIK, SEPT 17: The Maharashtra Government's move to transfer important tribal welfare schemes from the Tribal Development Commissionerate (TDC) to the respective Zilla Parishads (ZPs) has created a furore among tribal MLAs and unions. The move has also met with opposition from the tribal development commissioner himself.The State Cabinet is likely to discuss the issue and take a decision soon. Tribal MLAs are scheduled to meet in Mumbai on September 27 to discuss the issue.The tribal MLAs and unions have opposed the move on the grounds that the move would affect central schemes like the Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) and would complicate the welfare schemes due to interference by local leaders. Further, they have opined that it would defeat the very purpose of creating a separate TDC, rendering it redundant as 90 per cent of the TDC staff is involved in running the said schemes. The move is seen as a step towards dismantling the TDC.The Government has proposed to transfer Government-run and aided ashram-schools, hostels, irrigation-pumps, scholarships for tribal students, and financial aid to cooperative housing societies of backward classes, to the respective ZPs. The move is a part of the policy to strengthen the Panchayat Raj institutions.The tribal development commissioner N Arumugam, in a letter to the State Government, said that the transfer of the schemes to the ZPs would defeat the purpose of the ITDP. It would complicate the implementation of schemes as three parallel agencies (rural development department, education department and tribal development department) would be involved. Further, the move would hamper the welfare schemes as interference of local politicians would increase and the ZPs have no experience of running ashram-schools and hostels.He said that a committee, headed by the chief minister, has been created to advise the Governor on policy-decisions on tribal welfare as per the provisions of the Constitution and that before taking a decision the committee would have to be consulted.He further pointed out that since the proportion of tribals in ZPs is less, it would create new problems like fake tribals (producing bogus-certificates) claiming benefits meant only for tribals. He mentioned further that ZP school employees were loyal to local politicians. There were chances of the new system creating more problems with the fears of the situation going beyond the control of the authorities.The Adivasi Vikas Vibhag Karmachari Sanghatana representing employees of the tribal department, also has taken exception, more or less, on the same lines. Sanghatana general secretary Vikram Gaikwad has pointed out that in 1996 a one-man R C Sinha committee had recommended the winding-up of the TDC and transference of the tribal schemes to the respective divisional revenue commissionerates, a move which was opposed then by Madhukar Pichad, the current Tribal Development Minister.There are 412 Government-run ashram-schools and 507 aided ashram-schools run by private institutions in the State.
