This is the reason we should come together and preserve tribal culture. Rita.
On 08/07/2008, Surya Dash <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > *Jharkhand Forum | Jharkhand.org.in/forum * <http://www.jharkhand.org.in> > > * * > > > *No big projects in tribal areas: GoM > Chetan > Chauhan<http://www.hindustantimes.com/Search/Search.aspx?q=Chetan%20Chauhan&nodate=1>, > Hindustan Times* > Email Author<[EMAIL PROTECTED]:%20GoM> > New Delhi, July 08, 2008 > > For those eyeing tribal areas for starting big projects, there is some bad > news. A Group of Ministers has cleared the draft tribal policy disallowing > projects that can lead to huge displacement of tribal population. > > The policy, cleared by GoM headed by Home Minister Shivraj Patel, will now > be placed before the cabinet for its approval, a senior tribal affairs > ministry official said. "A cabinet note has already been prepared," the > official said. > > The cabinet constituted a GoM in July 2007 to discuss contentious issues in > the draft tribal policy after several Union ministers objected to clauses on > restriction on starting new projects, regulations for rehabilitation of > displaced tribals and ensuring benefit for tribals from new projects. > > The GoM has reportedly accepted the ministry's viewpoint that displacement > resulting from large projects, even if they are in public interest, causes > an "irreparable" damage to tribal culture and convert them from land > managers to daily wagers. > > However, the GoM has asked the ministry to define big projects in clearer > terms. The draft policy had stated that projects that lead to displacement > of 50,000 people, majority of whom are tribals, should not be undertaken. > The ministry had also said that big projects also cause a huge damage to > natural flora and fauna, 63 per cent of which is in 50 tribal districts of > India. > > The new policy, if notified, can mean end of road for big mining projects > in tribal areas, which cover 15 per cent of geographical area of the > country. Starting projects like Pasco Steel in tribal belt of Orissa, which > has caused a lot of resentment, would become difficult once the policy comes > into force, a ministry official admitted. > > In case of displacement, the policy says that tribals would get land for > land in the tribal zone itself so that they can sustain their livelihood > through traditional methods. The GoM has also agreed for conducting > mandatory social impact assessment before starting projects in tribal areas. > > The policy also envisages improvement in Human Development Index of > tribals, which has plummeted to the lowest level since Independence. "The > out of school children, school drop out rate and literacy rates among tribal > girls is among the lowest for different social groups in India," the draft > tribal policy said. The tribal affairs ministry expected to put the policy > for cabinet consideration before the end of July. "The tribal affairs > minister has already spoken to the prime minister in this regard," a > ministry official said. > > > http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=6ebb0a6c-0af8-46a7-8261-5339f7407f6a&&Headline=No+big+projects+in+tribal+areas%3a+GoM > > > > *Jharkhand Forum | Jharkhand.org.in/forum * <http://www.jharkhand.org.in> > > * * > > > > -- rita roy chowdhury
