Aarti Dhar

Adivasi Resource Centre made the suggestions
Wants Ministry to outline new criteria for scheduling tribes

GANGTOK

New Delhi,

In an effort to provide more welfare facilities for the Scheduled Tribes, the tribal affairs ministry has sought diversion of forest land for health and education schemes for these communities.

Union Minister of Tribal Welfare Shri P.R. Kyndiah will be launching 'Vindhya Herbals' on May 18, 2008 at 7 pm. at Phulwari Pragati Maidan New Delhi. The function will be jointly organised by TRIFED and Madhya Pradesh State Minor Forest Federation. Kunwar Vijay Shah Chairman of M.P., MFP will be presiding over the function. Senior officials from Ministry of Tribal Affairs, AYUSH, M.P. Government will be present on the occasion. A range of 200 formulations of these products are made by MPMFP Federation, Bhopal through their facility called MFP-PARC.

A parliamentary standing committee has expressed regret over the delay in approving the national tribal policy.

Indira Gandhi National Tribal University is being established at Amarkantak. The state government has provided 21 acre land for this university. Foundation stone of the university would be laid by Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh on April 19. Those who would be specially present on the occasion include Commercial Tax Minister Babulal Gaur, Tribal Welfare Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, Leader of the Opposition in Vidhan Sabha, Ms Jamuna Devi and MP Dalpat Singh Paraste. Famous Gandhian philosopher, Dr SN Subbarao would preside over the function.

The Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD) in its meeting held at Nagpur on April 12 and 13 last condemned the