KOKRAJHAR, June 5 - A nine-member team of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) led by its Chairperson Dr Nand Kumar Sai and comprising its vice chairman and other members and senior official visited Kokrajhar recently to see the assessment at the ground level in the implementation of various Central-sponsored schemes at Kokrajhar.
The team visited several areas including the Agriculture department at Titaguri, Central Institute of Technology situated at Balajan, Public Health Engineering Pipe Water Scheme at Balajan Tinali, VHND site at Bhag Amguri sub centre, MMU camp at Karigaon, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya at Patgaon, Tribal RCH camp at Bishmuri, Simbargaon Pipe Water Supply, Simbargaon state dispensary and Debargaon Higher Secondary School to access the overall assessment in health, agriculture, education, PHE etc. in the district.
The team later held review meetings with senior civil and police officials along with department heads followed by a meeting with the BTC authority at Kokrajhar Circuit House.
The team included the vice chairperson Anusuiya Uikey, Joint Secretary Siser Kumar Ratho, Deputy Secretary PT James Kutty, Assistant Director SP Meena and honorary adviser to the chairperson Satyadeo Sharma.
BTC Deputy Chief Kampa Borgoyary, BTC executive members Doneswar Goyary, Rajib Kumar Brahma, Lwmsrao Daimary, former Lok Sabha MP SK Bwiswmuthiary are among the prominent who were also present in the meeting.
Later talking to mediapersons, Sai stressed the need for better education for the development of the backward tribal communities, besides generating employment opportunities. �Agriculture and horticulture will also help the uplift of tribal people and their economy�, he said.
Stating that education is a must for development, he said upgrading the Central Institute of Technology (CIT) into a full-fledged University will be helpful for the students coming from the ST, SC and OBC communities in this region. He assured to take up the issue with the higher authority in the HRD Ministry.
The chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes also said that giving adequate power to the tribal autonomous councils, including those in the VIth Schedule areas will also facilitate development of the tribal people.
On the illegal encroachment in tribal belts and blocks in Assam, he expressed his serious concern on the issue saying, �No tribal land can be encroached or purchased by any non-tribals�. He assured to take up the issue seriously. On the 12,155 backlogs in vacancies meant for the ST(P) and ST(H) in various departments of Assam, he said the team will take up the issue with the Chief Minister.
