The government will always stand by the tribal populations, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.
He was speaking after performing the State-level inauguration of the golden jubilee of the Scheduled Tribes Development department at Nishagandhi auditorium on the Kanakakkunnu Palace compound on Saturday.
The Chief Minister said a separate department was formed for the welfare of tribal communities in the State 50 years ago, on July 1, 1975. Since then, the department had taken up a number of initiatives. “Hope the jubilee will help examine how many of these initiatives were successful, how many failed to realise their objectives, and which new should be taken up in these changing times,” the Chief Minister said.
In Kerala, tribespeople comprised 1.45% of the total population. The State government earmarked 2.83% of the annual Plan outlay in the Budget for their welfare and development. In contrast, tribal communities formed 8.06% of total population of the country. However, the Union government earmarked 3.08% of the budget outlay for them, he said.
He pointed out that tribal communities could live in the State without discrimination or attacks in the name of caste. However, this was not the situation in other States.
