Previous government neglected poor tribal for benefits: minister

State Tribal Welfare Minister Ramesh Tawadkar on Thursday accused the previous government of giving the benefits of tribal welfare schemes to the wealthy and neglecting the poor, who actually deserved it.

Tawadkar told the state Legislative Assembly that the erstwhile Congress-led government had not cleared the applications of various needy people retaining a backlog of 7-8 years.

This resulted in crores of rupees, sanctioned by the central government for tribal welfare, being left unutilised, he said.

"The money never reached the right people. Only wealthy got the money and needy were deprived," Tawadkar alleged. The state government had sanctioned Rs seven crore and central government Rs three crore for various tribal welfare schemes during the last financial year, of which only Rs one crore could be utilised," he said.

Responding to a question tabled by Congress legislator Atanasio Monserratte, the minister said that Rs seven crore sanctioned by the Union government was still with the state government, which could be utilised for various welfare schemes in the current financial year.

Tawadkar took over the ministry since March last year, when Parrikar-led government was elected in the state.