A parliamentary panel today pressed the government for the early implementation of a scheme which proposes to merge five existing Centrally- sponsored education programmes for the welfare of the tribals.
Taking into account the fact that a Cabinet note has already been submitted in this regard on August 26 this year, the panel urged the Tribal Affairs Ministry to get the scheme approved "urgently" so that it could be implemented in the current financial year itself.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment, in its report submitted in Parliament today, also sought early finalisation of the draft 'National Tribal Policy' in the larger interest of the poor tribals.
The education schemes the Ministry proposes to merge are the post-matric scholarship for ST students, pre-matric scholarships for ST students, schemes for construction of hostels for ST girls and boys, schemes for establishment of ashram schools in tribal sub-plan areas and vocational training in tribal areas.
The merger and recognition of the existing schemes is expected to expand the scope and flexibility of intervention that are presently available under the individual stand-alone schemes.
The Committee also recommended that compensation to all affected and displaced tribals may be "considered at the earliest" as the Right for Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 has already been notified.
