Speaking at a function here after an RSS-affiliated body released a 'vision document' for uplift of the community, the Minister said Christian missionaries were "carrying out religious conversion" several years ago because of poverty in the region but that has stopped now.
"In Dangs, they distributed sugar and wheat as a lure to convert poor tribal people to Christianity, (but) we led a revolution and today we can say for sure that conversion has stopped because of government's intervention," said Patel, who holds Forest, Environment and Tribal Development portfolios.
"As many as 140 tribal youths have been given Rs 15 lakh as easy loan by government. There are four women and 15 men (among them) who have become pilots. Last year, 558 tribal youths made it to GUJCET (a combined test for entrance to medical and engineering colleges) because of special coaching classes for tribals started by the government," he said.
The vision document of the RSS-affiliated 'Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram' suggests policy intervention by administration for the development of tribals.
The organisers said they had invited state Governor O P Kohli for the event but he could not come because of prior commitments.