Bhopal:Friday, August 8 :The Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the state government would protect the honour and dignity of the tribals. Shri Singh was launching the distribution of forest land right papers under Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act 2006 and Rules 2008 at Niwas tahasil headquarter in Mandla district today.
The Chief Minister made a token distribution of papers to eight tribal beneficiaries on the occasion. As many as 896 beneficiaries were distributed the papers on the occasion. Household articles seized from tribals in minor forest offence and encroachment cases were also returned to them at the function. While returning these belongings to the tribals like ploughs, wheels of bullock carts etc the Chief Minister said that it is not the return of the belongings but restoration of honour of the tribals.The Minister for Forests Kunwar Vijay Shah presided over the function.
The Chief Minister said that the function marks the beginning of state wide distribution of right papers on forest land to the eligible occupants of forest lands. A state wide campaign would be carried out for this purpose. He informed that two lakh claims have been received from all over the state for this. He said that about 90 thousand cases of minor offences registered against forest dwellers would be withdrawn. Shri Chouhan said that memorials to Raghunath Shah, Shankar Shah, Rani Durgawati and Tantya Bhil have been erected and awards instituted in their names to perpetuate their memories. He informed that notification has been issued for creation of Narayanganj and Ghughari tahasils.
The Chief Minister laid the foundation stones for irrigation tanks, community hall and air strip to be constructed at Jwara near Nainpur. All these works are estimated to cost Rs. 26 crore 97 lakh. Shri Chouhan also dedicated three reservoirs constructed at a cost of Rs. 7 crore 3 lakh. He also distributed tendu leaf bonus to five pluckers and presented keys of tractors to five beneficiaries under Integrated Tribal Development Project on the occasion.
The Minister for Forests Kunwar Shah said that bonus of Rs. 6 crore 32 lakh is being distributed to tendu leaf pluckers. Member of Parliament Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste and MLA Shri Rampyare Kulaste also spoke on the occasion. Minister of State Shri Gangaram Patel, MLA Shri Shivraj Shah and MLA Shri Pandit Singh Dhurve were also present on the occasion.