JAMMU, NOVEMBER 10 – Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today directed the officers of Tribal Affairs Department to adopt a comprehensive mechanism to expedite the process of providing scholarships to the ST students.

The Minister was speaking during a meeting to review the funds received and utilized by the department during last two years under various centrally sponsored schemes including SCA to TSP, Article 275 (I), pre-matric and post-matric scholarships to ST students, Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana and Tribal Research Institute (TRI).

Commissioner Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, Director, Tribal Affairs Department Mohd. Rafi, Special Secretary, Tribal Affairs M.S Choudhary, Secretary, Gujjar-Bhakerwal Advisory Board Mukhtar Ahmed, Director, Finance Tribal Affairs Department Dr. S.K Sen and other senior officers of the department were present in the meeting.

“The Education Department should be consulted to get the scholarship forms filled by the students along with their admission forms,” he said, adding that, the department should identify 20 meritorious students to provide financial assistance for taking professional coaching at the coaching centres of their own choice .

The Minister directed for expediting the pace of construction work of ST hostels in Bandipora, Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara, Degree College Handwara, Rajouri, Shopian, Leh, Kargil, Poonch and Samba.     

He further directed that TRI should start functioning from rented accommodation in Srinagar within a month and the requisite formalities for establishment of TRI be completed within a specified time frame. The Deputy Commissioners would be asked to submit DPRs for development of Cluster Model Villages under SCA to TSP in their respective districts, he maintained.

He instructed for constitution of Milk societies in tribal villages and establishment of Milk villages close to the habitations so that the people  don’t have to travel much to sell the milk.

Stressing on the need to do handholding of the tribal community, the Minister directed for creating awareness among them about the centrally sponsored welfare schemes for raising their living standards. A Committee should be formed headed by Commissioner Secretary for deciding the locations of Eklavya Model Residential Schools in Rajouri, Kargil and Poonch.

The Minister called for identification of land in consultation with JDA for construction of Tribal Development Complex. The   construction of shelter sheds for nomadic population should be done after identifying proper routes where the tribals live, he added.

He further asked for taking immediate steps to impart job oriented training to tribal youth on modular employable skill including pharmacy and other sectors. A team of officers should visit the other states to know about the facilities being provided to the tribals and implement those measures in the state for the welfare of tribal community.