Centre committed to improve lives of tribals — Union minister Oram

Inaugurates community halls in Dimapur

DIMAPUR — Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram on Tuesday, emphasised the central government’s commitment to improving the lives of tribal communities and highlighted a range of initiatives aimed at achieving this goal.

Inaugurating a new community hall at Indisen village in Dimapur, funded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Oram said that his visit to the state was part of the central government’s vision for a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India). He also acknowledged the local community for contributing their own resources to complete the project.

Oram said that when he began his tenure in the Ministry, the total budget was INR 8,000 crore. However, it has increased to an expected INR 3.5 lakh crore this year, he said, attributing it to Ministry’s enhanced status as a full-fledged entity and separation of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) from the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

He highlighted about the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) that provides financial assistance to Scheduled Tribes for income-generating activities and Aadi Bazaar which is organised by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) to promote tribal products.

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He also mentioned that the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) which helps to promote the tribal education through Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and said 22 such schools have been sanctioned for Nagaland. Only three EMRS are functioning in the state at present.

The minister provided an overview of the “Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Utkarsh Abhiyan”, a recently launched INR 79,156 crore programme targeting 63,000 villages across India. This scheme will encompass all 16 districts in Nagaland, focusing on improving social infrastructure, healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities for tribal communities in 74 blocks and 608 villages, he said. Further, 25 intervention schemes will be implemented under this programme by 17 central government ministries.

During the inaugural event, Advisor for Tribal Affairs and Election, H Tovihoto Ayemi stressed the importance of community unity in achieving progress. Affirming that the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the PDA government in Nagaland, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, is committed to the state’s overall development, he added that the central government remains receptive to the needs and demands of the people and is prepared to take action accordingly.

Advisor for Labour and Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Excise, Moatoshi Longkumer, described the new Community Hall as a momentous addition to Indisen Village, signifying hope, unity, and progress for its residents. He expressed gratitude for the Ministry’s dedication to uplifting tribal communities, stating that the hall’s realisation would not have been possible without their vision and commitment.

Following the inauguration, minister Oram held a state-level review meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Dimapur, where he also virtually inaugurated a council hall in Lake View Colony, Dimapur.

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According to updates from the DIPR, the meeting was attended by district heads, department officials, and key legislators from Nagaland, including Moatoshi Longkumer and H Tovihoto Ayemi.

While sharing about the centre’s vision for a developed nation, he reiterated that his visit was part of a larger directive from Prime Minister Modi for ministers to engage directly with citizens across the country, aimed to ensure effective implementation of government schemes and address local grievances. “He urged local officials to ensure that all government schemes are effectively implemented and reach the intended beneficiaries”, the update stated.

Meanwhile, legislators Longkumer and Ayemi expressed gratitude for the minister’s visit and his commitment to supporting tribal communities in Nagaland, while also raising concerns about the state’s road infrastructure, it said.

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