HP govt to constitute board for welfare of shepherds, gujjars

: Himachal Pradesh government will shortly constitute a board for welfare of nomadic gujjars and shepherds.

Power minister Anil Sharma on Saturday said government does not discriminate against tribal regions of the state. He was replying in vidhan sabha to cut motion on tribal development on behalf of tribal affairs minister Ram Lal Markanda. He said government would constitute a board for welfare of gaddi, shepherds’ and gujjars community soon. He said Jai Ram Thakurled government has enhanced budget for development of tribal regions.

He said there was budget allocation of ₹1,476 crore in last fiscal, which has now been increased to ₹1,564 crore. He said the government has decided to set up three residential schools in Pangi, Lahaul and Bharmaur regions for tribal students. “The government has been providing helicopter services to the tribal regions of the state. From December 22, as many as 30 sorties were carried which benefited 939 people,” he said.

Legislator from Kinnaur Jagat Singh Negi moved a cut motion on tribal development.

He spoke scathingly in the house, alleging discrimination against the tribal regions of the state. He alleged that demand for developmental works in the tribal areas have gone unheard in the last one year.

Negi alleged that large number of posts in government offices have been lying vacant, while citing government hospital as an example.

He said an eye specialist was posted in government hospital in Kinnaur and later transferred to Karsog. Negi demanded setting up of polytechnic institute in Kinnaur. He said a private company had expressed willingness to provide free of cost building for running a polytechnic college in Urni in Kinnaur. He asked the government to arrange a chopper for the tribal area.

Dalhousie legislator speaking on the cut motion said the government had not released grants under tribal sub plan for road constructions in her constituency. She demanded flights for Pangi during the winter from Chamba instead of Bhuntar.

Palampur legislator Ashish Butail expressed concern over the condition of shepherds. He demanded that government should set up a separate directorate for shepherds and gujjars community on analogy of Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir. Cut motion was rejected after it was put to vote.

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We don’t discriminate against tribal people. A board for welfare of gaddi, shepherds and gujjar community will be constituted soon.

ANIL SHARMA , HP power minister