The state government on Tuesday has agreed to consider the tribal community’s long pending demands including issuance of title deeds under the Forest Rights Act and filling of teachers’ vacancies in residential schools.
An agreement was reached between government representatives led by revenue minister K.A. Sengottaiyan and Tamil Nadu Tribals Association president P. Shanmugham after a sit in protest by tribal people led by CPI (M) politburo member Brinda Karat at Chepauk.
Mr Shanmugham told this newspaper that the government agreed to direct the district collectors to verify the title deed claim made by the tribal and forest dwellers under the Forest Rights Act.
Of the 21,700 claims, 3723 have been processed and recommended for distribution of title deeds. They also agreed to take steps to vacate the Madras high court stay against distribution of title deeds, he added.
On the teacher’s vacancies in Tribal Residential Schools, he said that the government agreed to conduct a special recruitment drive to fill the vacancies.
He also said minister Sengottaiyan accepted to set a 30-day timeframe for issuing Scheduled Tribes community certificate as it takes at least two to three years now.
On delay in paying compensation to victims of Vachathi atrocities, he said the government assured to pay the compensation after getting the Dharmapuri district collector’s report.