Plans afoot to turn tribals entrepreneurs

Hyderabad: Minister for Tribal Development, Tourism and Culture, Azmeera Chandulal directed officials to take steps to release Rs 50 lakh towards the subsidy component for prospective tribal industrialists.

Speaking at a review meeting held here on Friday, the Minister said preference would be given to those applicants willing to start industries in the scheduled areas.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to the welfare of STs in the State, Chandulal asked the department officials to speed up construction of roads in the agency areas and tribal hamlets in the plain areas.

The Minister said the government had decided to rope in international agencies to impart training to tribal farmers to increase agriculture production. Similarly, Rs 10 crore had been released to tribal students to undergo residential coaching, for competitive examinations.

He asked the officials to enter into agreements with nationally reputed institutions for the purpose. To address the health issues of students studying in tribal welfare educational institutions, the Minister said the State government had decided to appoint ANMs.

For this purpose, Chandulal said, an action plan should be prepared to provide ANM training to tribal girls so as to appoint them in schools. To resolve the problem of shortage of teachers, the Minister said, permissions would be given to appoint Vidya Volunteers.