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Direct benefit transfer scheme must go: Pawar

Nagpur: NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the direct benefit transfer (DBT) for adivasi students must be scrapped and the previous system restored as per demands made by the community. Pawar was speaking during an event in the city organized by adivasi organizations to honour legend Birsa Munda on his 144th birth anniversary.



Pawar also expressed regret that all benefits due to adivasis have still not accrued to the community. “The DBT scheme must go and as demanded by adivasi community leaders present here today, the previous system be restored,” said Pawar.

The crowd, well aware of the possibility of NCP-Congress and Shiv Sena forming a government in Maharashtra, responded with a huge applause. Reiterating his party chief’s stand, MLA from Katol Anil Deshmukh said this issue will be ‘top priority’ for them. “We will see to it that DBT is gone as it’s complicating matters for students.In DBT, students first have to shell out money from their pockets which is then reimbursed a few months later. Also there is a lot of paperwork and documentation to be done which becomes a hassle for adivasi kids,” said Deshmukh.

Praising the contribution of tribal legend Birsa Munda in taking on British colonial powers, Pawar also accepted that all politicians fell short of doing what was necessary for adivasis. “Despite all the achievements, Adivasis could not avail of all the benefits and rights that were due to them. We fell short in this aspect and I regret it. Now people like me have to take on the responsibility of ensuring that we work with the tribal community leaders and solve their problems,” said Pawar at the event organized under the banner of Adivasi Adhikar & Shiksha Parishad (AASP).

Satish Pendam, national coordinator of ASAP said tribals are facing tough times and they are pinning their hopes on the NCP chief. Pendam said, “In India, development is going hand in hand with destruction of adivasis. Adivasi movements are branded as naxals if they are vocal about it. We are counting on Pawar in the same way a patient counts on a doctor to solve our problems.”

Congress leader Nitin Raut, MLA from North Nagpur where the event was being held, assured Pendam that it was not the case. “Every year in our offices we honour the great leader Munda. In fact, Congress party has always followed the principles and ideals of Munda and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar,” said Raut during his speech.

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