Mumbai, Oct 27 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday directed officials to prepare time-bound action plans and expedite measures to address the issues faced by tribal communities, including those related to education, forest rights, rehabilitation, water supply and Aadhaar registration.
He was speaking at a meeting with a delegation of the Shramjeevi Sanghatana, an organisation working for the rights of tribal communities.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule were also present, an official release said.
The Shramjeevi Sanghatana and the Samarthan organisation would be involved in preparing the Viksit Bharat 2047 Vision Document, Fadnavis said.
Suggestions from various organisations would also be considered while preparing a separate development plan for tribal communities, he said.
He said a positive decision would be taken after examining the proposal to provide tribal students free and compulsory education up to the age of 18, he said.
The chief minister directed officials to take immediate steps to provide free tuition and adequate scholarships to tribal students, fill vacant posts in Ashram or residential schools, and ensure classrooms, separate toilets for boys and girls, and sports facilities in Zilla Parishad schools.
A special campaign will be conducted till December 15 to settle eligible claims under the Forest Rights Act. Fadnavis directed officials to ensure that all eligible individual and community claims approved by village-level committees are settled and no claim remains pending.
The Revenue Department is taking steps to address the land rights issues of families in Palghar district who have cultivated land for generations but lack legal records, the release said.
Fadnavis also directed officials to prepare a rehabilitation plan for families rescued from bonded labour in Thane, Palghar, Nashik, Pune, Raigad and Ahilyanagar districts.
The Water Supply Department was asked to prepare a time-bound programme to ensure that every tribal household receives water under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The administration was also directed to prepare district-wise lists of tribal people without Aadhaar cards and conduct a time-bound campaign to ensure that every eligible person obtains one.
(PTI News)
