Tribal Welfare Schemes Earn Praise - Dr. Varnali Deka

The Director of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Dr. Varnali Deka, appreciated the implementation of tribal welfare schemes and the performance of ITDAs in the Telugu states. She stated that the best practices being followed here are being considered for adoption across the country. A national-level workshop is planned in May to further discuss and implement these strategies. She attended a regional workshop held at Masab Tank focusing on strengthening ITDAs in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

During the meeting, she emphasized the need to provide both education and employment opportunities to tribal youth. She highlighted the importance of improving residential schools and promoting primary education in local languages to enhance student capabilities. Decisions were also made to expand tribal cooperative initiatives such as fuel stations and cooking gas distribution centers. Officials were advised to ensure effective implementation of forest rights laws, prevent migration, and strengthen administrative systems to avoid delays.