Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, on Monday, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of conveniently remembering tribals only during election periods and criticized the government for renaming existing schemes to mislead the community. Kharge raised concerns about the significant reduction in expenditure on tribals during the Modi government.
The remarks came after Prime Minister Modi, via video conferencing, released the first installment of Rs 540 crore to one lakh tribal beneficiaries of a rural housing scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN). Modi, during the event, highlighted his government's dedication to the welfare of the poor over the past 10 years.
Kharge, in a post on X in Hindi, questioned the government's commitment to tribal welfare, particularly pointing out a 48.15% increase in crimes against tribals since 2013, according to NCRB data. He also raised concerns about the BJP-led governments' failure to implement the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
The Congress Chief brought attention to the decline in expenditure for the Development Scheme for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), which dropped from Rs 250 crore in 2018-19 to only Rs 6.48 crore in 2022-23, as reported by the parliamentary committee.
Kharge accused the Modi government of attempting to deceive the tribal community by renaming failed schemes during the election season. He emphasized the Congress party's commitment to fighting for the rights of the tribal society, including the preservation of water, forests, land, and tribal civilization.
In response, Prime Minister Modi asserted that the country's development hinges on the effective reach of welfare schemes to all sections of society, guaranteeing benefits even for those in the remotest areas. Drawing parallels with the epic Ramayana, Modi invoked Shabari, a tribal woman who served berries to Lord Ram, emphasizing the importance of uplifting the poor, deprived, and tribals for overall welfare. Modi highlighted the substantial increase in budgets for welfare schemes and scholarships for tribal students over the last decade, showcasing his government's commitment to tribal upliftment.
(With Agency Inputs)
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