Foreign funds used to lure tribals for conversion: Minister

INDORE: Union minister of state for tribal affairs Renuka Singh on Saturday expressed concern over religious conversion of tribal people and alleged that Adivasis are being lured by “antisocial elements with promise of good education and medical care”.


“Tribal people belong to Hindu community.

There is, however, a state of confusion at many places. Some antisocial elements are using funds from foreign countries to lure them with good education and health services for religious conversion. This is sad,” Renuka, a tribal leader from Chhattisgarh , told reporters here. The 55-year-old is the first woman Union minister from Chhattisgarh.

“Currently, there is no law at national level to stop religious conversion through temptation, but on receiving complaints, the targeted people are persuaded to follow the religion that they belong to since the government is there to protect their rights. There is an increase in awareness in society against converted tribals claiming ‘double-benefits’, and there is also some resentment among ST youths against it,” she said.

Replying to a question, the minister said there is no need for a review of caste-based reservation, “as people require it”. On former Chhattisgarh CM Ajit Jogi’s caste status, she said: “The matter related to Ajit Jogi’s caste is very controversial and depends on the court’s decision. I can only say that he is not a tribal.”

Singh, who is an MP from Sarguja Lok Sabha seat, targeted chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, saying: “Congress is frustrated as it could not win even a single seat in 18 states in the (recent) general elections. When BJP started its Pad Yatra on Gandhi Jayanti , Baghelji started Gandhi Vichar Yatra to counter us.”

She said she would take steps to rehabilitate women of a particular community in some districts of Ujjain division who are allegedly forced into sex trade.

“Naxalite activity in Chhattisgarh has reduced to a great extent in the last 15 years, and is now confined to Bastar district . The Centre is working with the state government to eradicate this problem,” she said.

Singh is among the few first-timers to be inducted in the Modi cabinet. A Gond, she has studied till Class XII — not many from her tribe went that far way back in 1980. She won the Surguja (ST) seat by 1.5 lakh votes although Congress held all the assembly segments in the region after the 2018 assembly elections.