By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Chairperson Harsh Chouhan has expressed his serious concern on the alleged diversion of funds under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in Odisha for other purposes.
Accompanied by the commission members Ananta Nayak, Alka Tiwari and others, Chouhan reviewed different aspects related to socio-economic development of tribal community in Odisha. The commission was of the opinion that the funds collected under DMF was the share of the community which should be spent on them instead of being utilized in some other places.
“The commission has also taken serious view on diversion of DMF Fund in the state. The commission asked the state government to submit a detailed report on the issue within period of one month,” Chouhan told reporters. Chouhan said the commission has suggested to the state government to make PESA rule for implementation of PESA Act -Panchayat (extension to Scheduled Area) in Odisha.
The NCST chairman said the purpose of constituting the DMF was to compensate the community (not any person) on the adverse impact of mining. The funds cannot be spent anywhere at will. “We were told by the officials that the funds is spent in the district. Therefore, we have sought a detailed report within a month,” Chouhan said.
Noting that the NCST team has noticed that the inmates of some residential tribal schools and hostels managed by the government were staying in “unhygienic” and “inhuman” condition, Chouhan said the state government has been informed about the sorry state of affairs in some places.
The NCST team found that the state government on urgent basis require to address the issues relating to diversion and non-utilisation of STC funds which has been reserved for welfare of the scheduled tribes in the state of Odisha under various heads, long terms delays in rehabilitation of project affected tribals, land displacement and long term pendency of compensation amount to tribals who were displaced under various projects, financial frauds and atrocities against STs, deficiency of doctors, paramedic staff and other medical infrastructure facilities in tribal areas.
