Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram today claimed that there had been "over 50 per cent improvement" in the socio-economic conditions of the tribals, compared with the 90s.
"There has been over 50 per cent improvement in the socio-economic conditions of the tribals than what is was in 1990 or 1992. This change has occurred because our government has been following the agenda to do every bit for the betterment of these socio- and economically backward people right from Atal Bihari Vajpayee government when he, for the first time, thought of the need of separate ministry (of tribal affairs)," Oram said.
He was speaking at a function where the activist Bikram Bahadur Jamatia was given ONE India Award, set up by My Home India, an NGO working in the North East.
Oram praised Jamatia terming him a true reformist and his old associate.
Jamatia was selected for the award for his extensive work for the unity of various tribes of Tripura inspite of the persistent threat of insurgents, the NGO said.
Speaking on this occasion, Ved Prakash Mahawar, director of ONGC (Onshore), said he had talked with the Confederation of Indian Industry to set up BPOs in the North-Eastern states as the people in the region speak English well.
Sunil Deodhar, founder of My Home India, said the Tripura government could revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act because of the work done by Jamatia and his valour, as he defied the insurgents and didn't bow down before them.
"The terrorists of National Liberation Front of Tripura levied a tax on tribals and threatened them not to do puja in their houses. It was Jamatia who dared and defied their diktats," Deodhar said.
