NATIONAL COMMISSION REVIEWS VARIOUS SCHEMES FOR ST COMMUNITY
Panaji, May 21, 2025
Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), Shri. Antar Singh Arya chaired a series of meetings in the city today to discuss various issues related to the welfare of tribal communities in Goa.
The meetings were organized by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) in association with the Directorate of Tribal Welfare. Shri Arya along with the members of the Commission, Dr. Asha Lakra, Shri Nirupam Chakma and Shri Jatothu Hussain took stock of the measures and schemes being implemented by various Departments in the State.
The members interacted with the Chief Secretary, Dr V. Candavelou, IAS, and heads of various departments at the State level meeting to review the implementation of various safeguards and programs run for the welfare and development of scheduled tribes. Various schemes of the Government were assessed regarding their outreach to the members of the ST community in Goa.
Shri Arya said that the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes is a Constitutional body and their focus is to ensure what’s enshrined in the Constitution of India, Statutory law and Government orders are implemented in letter and spirit for the welfare of the tribal community.
He further informed that the Commission was visiting the entire country and issues raised and their observations regarding it will be placed before the President and Parliament. He asked authorities in the State to sort out tribal related issues on a mission mode and gave suggestions for a Tribal Bhavan in Goa. He observed that land ownership was a very pertinent issue raised by tribal representatives in Goa and considering that tribal people are ardent protectors of the environment through their worship of nature, they should be given ownership to their ancestral land.
Shri Arya stressed on the Commission’s focus of engaging with the youth of the ST community stating that the youth are the future of tomorrow.
Present on the occasion was Shri Puneet Kumar Goel, IAS, Secretary, NCST, Shri Amit Nirmal, Joint Secretary, NCST among others.
Earlier, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes held a meeting with tribal delegation and social organizations working for tribal welfare in Goa. Present were Chairperson, Goa State Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation Ltd, Shri Vasudev M. Gaonkar, Chairperson, Goa Commission for SC/ST, Shri. Deepak Karmalkar.
The delegates spoke of their grievances and gave suggestions regarding land-related issues faced by ST community, reservations, Tribal Research Institute, tribal atrocities, facilities for tribal women and students, placements for students, among other issues.
DI/NB/AXP/CR/2025/297