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The Eighth Meeting of the National Advisory Council was chaired by Smt. Sonia Gandhi, at New Delhi today and was attended by ten Members of the Council.
Discussions continued on issues relating to Tribal Welfare and Development, including the Computerization of Land Records (starting with the Scheduled Areas), the delivery of Health Services, the strengthening of Community Cooperatives in forest produce, the Policy of nationalization of non-timber forest produce, Panchayat laws applicable to the Scheduled Areas, joint forest management, shifting cultivation, land alienation and indebtedness, the need to improve the levels of governance and the absenteeism of government functionaries in the tribal areas. In the light of the discussions, it was agreed that composite proposals which effectively protect the interests of the tribals, keeping in view the commitments of the National Common Minimum Programme, would be forwarded to the Government of India at an early date. It was further agreed that the proposed National Tribal Policy, which is in draft stage, would be examined and specific response sent to the Government.
The discussions also centered on the serious problem of eviction of tribals from forest lands, the impact of earlier Guidelines and their inadequate implementation. A Video Presentation was shown and it was decided that the resolution of these issues would form an important component of the Council’s recommendations in this regard.
A Presentation was also made on issues pertaining to Governance and on improving the Delivery of Programmes through Administrative Reforms in respect of the Civil Service, Panchayats and NGOs. An outline was presented of related matters such as the proposed Constitution Amendment Bill for Autonomy of Cooperatives and of the tasks being addressed by the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council, especially in regard to industries like textiles, leather and leather goods and food processing and for employment generation in the rural areas. These discussions will continue.
The next Meeting of the Council was scheduled for Friday, 14th January, 2005.
National Advisory Council
New Delhi: Pausa 18, 1926 / January 8, 2005
SKS/NSR
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