After the restoration of ancestral property rights to the women in Tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh in a landmark judgment by the HP High Court a month back, Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh, cleared his intention for providing land to landless and the younger sibling in Tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur to be given ‘Nautor’ land within six months.
He was presiding over the 44th meeting of the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) held here today.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that there were age old traditions in Lahaul and Spiti where the there was a Bara Ghar (House of elder Brother) and Chotta Ghar (Younger Brother) and the elder inherited the property whereas the siblings either join the monastery or nunneries or work as labourers or open small shops for a living. I am strongly of the opinion that this age-old tradition must change, he said and issued direction to formulate a policy within six months so that all younger siblings get their share.
He said that there were many cases coming to his office regarding providing land to landless in Spiti area of the State and a radical policy be formulated to provide land to them and others in Tribal areas to be followed retrospectively in Kinnaur district as well.
The Chief Minister also assured for opening a HRTC Sub-Depot at Kaza and also announced fertilizers sub-depot at Udaipur. He said that a sub committee be formed under the Chairmanship of Forest Minister, with secretary law, secretary forests, secretary tribal development, PCCF to look into the Forest Clearance Cases in Tribal areas so that the development works do not hinder in view of the notification issued by the forest department in July 2014.
Taking cognizance of much delay in routing 66 KV electric line till Kaza and Losar, the Chief Minister suggested to hold a meeting under the Chief Secretary and submit report at the earliest. He said whatever survey was to be done should be done on priority. He also directed to look into power cuts in Killar in Pangi valley and told to submit a report within 15 days.
The Chief Minister also asked for details of the works along with the expenditure on such works under Local Area Development Fund (LADA) in Kinnaur district within ten days. He also inquired about detailed report of the posts which got transferred along-with the incumbent from Tribal areas. He said that in such cases the posts would be restored in Tribal areas.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that the survey of tunnel from Chamba to Pangi be seriously undertaken as it would reduce much distance to Killar and said that the survey on Holi-Utrala Tunnel was being done by M/s SJVNL.
The Chief Minister however directed the department to fill up the vacant posts of doctors and para-medical staff in tribal areas on priority within two months positively. He directed to dispatch consignment of essential drugs of Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Allopathy in the Tribal areas before September or October. The Chief Minister took a serious view of non filling of posts of teachers of all categories by the education department in various schools in tribal areas, particularly in Lahaul and Bharmour-Pangi and said that the vacant posts be soon filled so that the study of the students do not suffer.
The Chief Minister asked to restore eco-tourism facilities in Nichar. Besides, as per the demands of the farmers of Lahaul and Spiti for construction of Poly houses, the Chief Minister said that the instruction had been issued to construct poly houses of different designs as compared to other areas of the State and the request regarding construction of poly houses beyond an area of 40 square meters would be considered and necessary instructions were issued to the Horticulture and Agriculture departments in this regard.
It is for the first time that four women representatives were amidst us as special invitees from Tribal areas, said the Chief Minister, adding that the welfare of the people of the tribal areas and its development had always remained his priority. The government was committed to provide better education and health services to the people of the Tribal areas and in this direction 47 posts of doctors including seven specialists had been filled up.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that around Rs 984.53 crores were being spent for development in the tribal areas in the fiscal 2015-16, adding that Rs 47.36 crore was being spent on construction of Roads, Bridges and Buildings in this financial year and a sum of Rs 68.01 crore in Education and Health sector.
Forest Minister, Shri Thakur Singh Bharmouri welcomed the Chief Minister on the occasion while Deputy Speaker Vidhan Sabha Shri Jagat Singh Negi proposed vote of thanks.
Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner Tribal Development Shri V.C. Pharka the proceedings.
Vice-Chairman National Commission for Schedule Tribes, Shri Ravi Thakur, Chief Secretary, Shri P Mitra, were also present on the occasion amongst non official members from the tribal areas of the State and senior officers of the State Government.