ST commission for doubling budget for tribals in Karnataka

After a four-day visit to the state, commission chairman Rameshwar Oraon said more funds are needed to be invested in tribal areas in proportion of population, and budget provisions for their welfare should also be "need-based".

The commission visited Bellary and Mysore districts and interacted with tribals and state officials.

In addition, he said currently the reservation in employment for tribals was only three per cent, and the quota needed to be raised to 6.5 per cent, in proportion to their population in the state.

"We have requested the State government to form a separate tribal welfare department", Oraon said, tribals have also demanded a separate coaching centre to prepare the students for competitive exams.

Vocational training needs to imparted in tribal areas.

The Commission praised the government's efforts in spreading education in tribal areas, running mobile vans there to supply medicines and providing land to the tribals.

"We are of the opinion that the standard (of tribal students in Karnataka) is better compared to tribal students in other states," Oraon said but noted that primitive tribal groups are living in poor conditions, and the government needs to spend more funds for their welfare.

As of now only 2-3 days employment are provided in tribal areas in a month under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, and it should be increased to 100 days a year there, he said.

Referring to the Prevention of Atrocities Act, Oraon said the rate of charge-sheet and conviction was poor in the state, and the quality of investigation was not good.