CM announces meeting to discuss rehabilitation packages for tribes

CM announces meeting to discuss rehabilitation packages for tribes

Mangalore Today

Mangalore, August 26, 2012: CM Jagadish Shettar announced on August 25, Saturday that the state government will soon call a meeting of district-in-charge ministers and elected representatives of Chikmagalur, Udupi, and Dakshina Kannada to discuss rehabilitation packages for tribes near Kudremukh National Park. A preliminary discussion has already been held with concerned elected representatives and district-in-charge ministers, he added.

Interacting with reporters, Shettar said that the issue needs to be thoroughly discussed before a rehabilitation package can be created and that the relocation of willing forest settlers can be thought about once a rehabilitation package has been worked out.

The CM also said that the state government has submitted a revised short-term and long-term financial package worth Rs. 11,400, as directed by Union Ministers Jairam Ramesh and Sharad Pawar, after reviewing the situation.

The state government announced a drought relief package worth Rs. 3,600 crore for 16 lakh farmers at the recent legislative session which was approved in the cabinet. The CM said that the centre has to contribute to the relief and rehabilitation package, adding that relief will be provided to farmers who have already sowed seeds and those who are yet to start the sowing work.

He also said that the state government will re-consider the recent value added tax (VAT) hike, which was required to provide relief to drought-hit areas in Karnataka. He said that VAT can be reduced if the government can think of extra resources of relief for drought-hit areas.