Keep tabs on utilization of Central funds for tribal by Dispur, BSS tells Centre

The BSS leaders told Orang in no uncertain terms that Dispur continued to play ducks and drakes with Central funds meant for tribal development in Assam

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, February 17: The Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) has spewed a burning sense of injustice meted to it by the Congress-led Assam Government in the state, before Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Jewel Orang. Orang was the chief guest at the BSS conference in the city yesterday.

The BSS leaders told Orang in no uncertain terms that Dispur continued to play ducks and drakes with Central funds meant for tribal development in Assam. It also requested to the Union minister to keep tabs on the utilization of Central funds meant for tribal people in Assam, by Dispur.

"The Bodos comprise bulk of the indigenous tribal people in Assam having their own language, literature and culture that aren't safe because of lack of attention from Dispur," leaders of the BSS said, and added: "The Government of Assam is yet to distribute the Central funds allocated in fiscal 2013-14 (TSP-SCA) under Article 271 for tribal development in Assam properly."      

According to the BSS,  in the Union Budget for fiscal 2013-14 the allocation of Central funds for Trial people in Assam was Rs 4,587 lakh.

 "All these funds remained blocked when Ranee rah was a Union minister for Tribal Affairs. The funds remained unutilized, and such the Centre should release the funds immediately and monitor their distribution among the tribal people in Assam," the BSS leaders told the Union minister.

The BSS also demanded proper implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditiol Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. "Many tribal schools that have been set up in forest lands have not been provincialized due to non-implementation of the Act. There're many such schools in the BTAD that are deprived of government aid. This is because the no-objection certificate cannot be given for any such institution on forest land," the BSS leaders said, and demanded proper implementation of the Act.

The BSS also demanded of Orang the inclusion of Bodo Kacharis living in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao as ST (Hills).