Srinagar, July 07: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha emphasized that the era of individuals treating government property and funds as their own has come to an end. They were taking decisions that would suit their political interests for a long time but this discrimination was ended in 2019.
Addressing the National Tribal Festival held in Srinagar, Sinha said a few days back, the UT administration announced a historic decision to provide 5 marlas of land to 2711 landless families and homes to those who are homeless.
Sinha acknowledged that this ground breaking decision has sparked opposition from certain quarters. He pointed out that these detractors were the very individuals who had unlawfully occupied government land and constructed lavish residences for themselves and their relatives, while the underprivileged suffered.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the discriminatory system was abolished on August 5, 2019. He reaffirmed the commitment of the administration to prioritize the needs of the poorest of the poor, dalits, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and tribal communities when it comes to the allocation of government resources.
He said after the abrogation of Article 370, Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana is being implemented here in J&K. “It’s the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide a home to the homeless and we all are working to fulfill his dream. Each homeless family will get 5 marlas so that they can build their dream house,” LG said.
“UT Government is dedicated to serving the poor section of society. It is providing land to landless citizens who were ignored in the past. They are eligible under PMAY (G) and will soon have their own house,” he said.
The Lt. Governor said that 40,000 PMAY houses to be allocated to eligible tribal community families as per the official record of Tribal Affairs Department
“Government record suggests, out of these, around 8000 are landless. They cannot be deprived merely because some people do not want to see benefits reaching to underprivileged and tribals being empowered,” he said.
Lt. Governor Sinha highlighted the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. This initiative, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, aims to provide homes to the homeless.
Lt. Governor Sinha reiterated the government’s unwavering dedication to serving the poor sections of society, acknowledging the marginalized citizens who were previously overlooked but are now eligible to receive land under the PMAY (G) scheme, allowing them to realize their dream of owning their own homes.
LG Sinha said the tribal community has laid the strong foundation for the country to prosper. For centuries, the community acted as a bridge connecting our cultural ethos and conserving our biodiversity. Their determined contribution to the development process is a source of inspiration for all of us, he added.
LG Sinha also shared the efforts and initiatives of the government to empower the tribal youth and women and to give impetus to the socio-economic development of the tribal community.
“We understand the dreams of tribal youth and encourage them every way possible so that they do not fall behind anyone in the age of accelerated change. Efforts are being made to ensure that every benefit is available to them,” he said.
Lt. Governor said today the doors of opportunity are opening up for tribal communities. It is the prime objective of the government to provide equal opportunities to youth and women of tribal communities, to ensure that economic and social justice reaches them and we make them partners in the system, he added.
LG urged the people to buy the products made by the tribal community members. We will also direct the government departments to procure products made by Tribal artisans, he said.
On the occasion, LG appreciated the artists of the tribal community from different states for showcasing the rich tribal culture and heritage through dance and music performances.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor launched various initiatives of the Tribal Affairs Department including TRI Wool Web Portal and GIS Portal for Transhumance. He also rolled out Law 20 Coaching Scheme for Law students staying in Tribal Hostels.
After the function, Lt. Governor inspected the stalls installed by tribal artisans, and entrepreneurs and also handed over the smart tools to the beneficiaries.
Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Secretary to the Government, Tribal Affairs Department gave a detailed briefing on the initiatives taken by the administration for the welfare of tribal community in J&K UT. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the support.
The Tribal Affairs Department in collaboration with the Jodhpur-based Central Wool Development Board is launching several schemes for the families involved in sheep farming.
Under Law 20 Scheme, Law students staying in Tribal Hostels will be provided free of cost coaching for prestigious exams by the renowned coaching institute of the country. The GIS Portal will help in tracking the migratory tribal population.
The National Tribal Festival was attended by esteemed dignitaries, including Dr Naval Jit Kapoor, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, secretaries from various states, senior officers from the Union Ministry, UT Administration, and police, as well as members, artisans, entrepreneurs, and students of the tribal community.
