It is the election year and the govt is suddenly concerned about the plight of tribals. And why not, tribals form 15 per cent of the state’s population.
AHMEDABAD: If you are a tribal and need a bypass surgery, walk into Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and you will be treated free! It is the election year and the government is suddenly concerned about the plight of tribals. And why not, tribals form 15 per cent of the state’s population.
Among the many populist initiatives by the government to woo tribals, the Civil Hospital has been asked to start a special A/C ward exclusively for tribal patients. It is being constructed at the cost of Rs 29 lakh, and will treat any tribal for any ailment absolutely free.
The need to appease the tribals is reflective from the state government’s announcement of an Rs 15,000 crore allocation for tribal development scheme in the 2006-07 budget. The government is looking at offering education and employment sops under the scheme.
Another promise that it has made is setting up of an Eklavya school for tribal kids at par with any other modern city school in all the 43 tribal talukas in the state. The scheme was launched by the Centre which is already funding eight schools in tribal areas. Sources said, it makes good politics for the state government to hijack the scheme which is now funded by the Congress-led UPA government, by starting two new Eklavya schools in Godhra and Dahod.
So while the Centre offers Rs 30 lakh for an Eklavya school, the government has earmarked Rs 70 lakh each for the two new schools which will start by June 15. “The eight schools being run at present with the Centre’s help do not have proper staff and infrastructure. We will strengthen them and start two new schools by this academic year,” said state tribal development secretary AM Tiwari. The government has made a budgetary allocation of Rs 6 crore for the schools under the tribal development scheme, he added.
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