The Hindu : `Implement Centre's order on tribal land'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 22, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

`Implement Centre's order on tribal land'

By Our Staff Reporter

PALAKKAD, FEB. 21 . The Union Minister of State for Commerce, Vidya Sagar Rao, has urged the State Government to implement the recent Central Government order to issue pattayams to the forest land under the possession of tribals.

Addressing a press conference here today, the Minister said the Central Government had taken this decision to help the landless tribals who were living in the forest.

The Government also took into consideration the struggle by the tribals for land in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and other States.

He said there was a scheme to buy land at market price for tribals. The State Government should also try that option to provide land to the landless tribals.

He said the Union Government would approach the Supreme Court to get its sanction to allot forest land to tribals. The Minister said the Centre had earmarked Rs. 1,000 crores for the modernisation of the police force in the country to provide adequate security. This would help the State to modernise its own police force, he said.

On the development front, the Vajpayee Government had taken a number of steps that would help it to return to power in the coming Lok Sabha elections. When asked about the statement of the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, that the farmers in the country who constituted majority of the rural population were not feeling good, the Minister said that various subsidies were given to farmers.

The BJP State president, P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, who was also present at the press conference, said the State Government had not utilised 65 per cent of the Central assistance for drought relief.

Even the money that was obtained was diverted from drought-affected areas like Palakkad to the home districts of some Ministers. Mr. Pillai demanded an inquiry into the illegal diversion of drought relief assistance.

Replying to a question on his becoming a candidate for the Lok Sabha election, Mr. Sreedharan Pillai said he would not contest the election as he had to work for the success of the party candidates in the State. The Union Minister also inaugurated the district convention of the BJP here.

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