Improve tribals’ standards of living: Maya Chintaman Ivnate

Guntur: National SC, ST Commission member Maya Chintaman Ivnate directed the officials to take steps to improve the standards of living of Scheduled Tribes (Girijans) and instructed the banks to extend financial assistance to them to start petty business for self-employment. 

Addressing a meeting at Revenue Kalayana Mandapam here on Thursday, she emphasised the need to extend helping hand to improve the standard of living of Scheduled Tribes. Banks and officials of various government departments explained steps taken by the government for the welfare of STs. 

Tribal welfare department officials said that they have set up schools for tribals. She said that ST students are getting 95 per cent marks in SSC, Intermediate and added that the government is extending Rs 15-lakh financial assistance under Ambedkar Overseas Education Scheme for those ST students who wanted to pursue education abroad. 

The officials said that they have taken steps to admit the ST students, who appear for IAS, in the coaching centres in Bengaluru and other metros. They also said that ITDAs have taken steps to improve infrastructure in their colonies and the district administration is monitoring the progress of investigation of cases booked under ST Atrocity Act.

Later, speaking to the media, Maya Chintaman Ivnate expressed satisfaction over implementation of welfare schemes for STs in the district. She said that two months ago when the Collector Kona Sasidhar met her in Delhi, she urged the former to allocate house site pattas to STs at Chemallamudi village. She said: “I was happy to distribute house site pattas to 55 beneficiaries in Chemallamudi village”. 

District collector Kona Sasidhar said that government is committed to the welfare of STs. Guntur Urban Superintendnet of Police Vijaya Rao, Guntur Rural Superintendent of Police Ch Venkata Appala Naidu, GMC Commissioner Srikesh B Lathkar were present.