Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 10: Bhartiya Gujjar Mahasabha (BGM) has slammed the State Government for its apathetic approach towards the burning issues of Schedule Tribe communities including mis-utilisation of funds under Tribal Sub Plan.
Addressing a press conference, State president, BGM, Ishfaq-ur-Rehman Poswal said that in response to the RTI, which he had filed to know the utilization of funds under Tribal Sub Plan, revealed that large amounts of funds have either been mis-utilised or have not been spent.
Poswal said that the State Government is not serious about the plight of Gujjars and Bakerwals despite number of requests and memorandums submitted to it time and again by BGM and directions by the Central Government as well as President of India.
Poswal said that he called on President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on September 27 last year during the latter’s visit to Srinagar and apprised him of several problems confronting Gujjars and Bakerwals of the State including mis-utilisation of funds under Tribal Sub Plan, ban on inter-district recruitment, political reservation and other issues, who after taking due notice of the issues, wrote a letter to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under President’s secretariat, which further conveyed to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, which through a letter asked the State Government to give a detailed point wise response to the two petitions filled by him (Poswal) without any further delay.
He further informed that a delegation of BGM led by him also called on Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah as well as Governor, NN Vohra some days back to apprised them of the problems of the ST communities and mis-utilisation of funds under Tribal Sub Plan, and demanded to create Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the State to ensure proper utilization of funds at the block level. We also handed over the copy of memorandum, which we had submitted to the President of India, to the Governor, he said, adding no action has been taken so far in this regard by the State Government.
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