Imphal, May 5, 2022 (DIPR): The ongoing series of press conferences for Heads of Departments organized by DIPR which began from Feb 24, 2022 concluded today.
In the concluding session held at DIPR head office in Moirangkhom, the Tribal Affairs and Hills Department, Manipur highlighted the various achievements and programmes of the department to the media today.
Shri Joseph Pauline, Director, Tribal Affairs & Hills, informed the media that the Department of Tribal Affairs and Hills (TAH) is established in the year 1976. Through a three dimensional approach, the department has been implementing a number of schemes and programmes for upliftment and welfare of the scheduled tribes of the state, he said.
For the year 2016-17, the department has provided Pre-Matric Scholarship to 23,521 students while Post Matric Scholarship were provided to 64291 students through Direct Benefit Transfer.
Targeting health services in remote interiors of tribal areas, TA & Hills, in partnership with Karuna Trust through Public Private Partnership mode runs three Health Centres at Thingpuikuol Village in Churachandpur, Impa Village in Tamenglong and Chamu village in Ukhrul respectively since the year 2014-15. Remote and hard-to-reach interiors of tribal areas which are presently not reached by line department are selected for setting up such health centres, officials said.
In addition to three existing Eklavya Model Residential Schools in the state, funds for establishment of two more EMRS- one at Loktak project in Churachandpur and another at Kamjong in Kamjong district have been sanctioned by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India at an estimated cost of Rs. 16 crores per EMRS. The existing EMRS are at Tamenglong District HQ, Moreh Ward No. 1 in Chandel district and Saitu-Gamphazol in Kangpokpi district.
TAH has also taken up Two years Diploma in Para Medical Course during 2016-17 through Shija Hospital & Research Centre, Imphal accommodating 62 tribal youths who will be completing their course by September 2018. The students of the course were assured of full placement by Shija Hospitals. Besides, process has been completed for selection of 114 tribal trainees for the year 2017-18 for a Para Medical Course through Escent Institute of Paramedical Sciences & Skill Development, Nongmeibung, Imphal.
To open up employment avenues for tribal unemployed youth, TAH department has also taken up Skill Development initiatives through M/S Jettwings, Guwahati in Civil Aviation & Hospital sectors. So far, 183 tribal youth-including 7 Maram youth has been placed in these sectors. For the year 2017-18, another 168 tribal youth-including 38 Maram youth are undergoing training courses at Jettwings, Guwahati. Special considerations are given to Maram youths owing to their unique primitive traits.
The press conference was attended by Smt. Kamala Devi, Deputy Secretary, Shri Zila Singh, Executive Engineer, Shri Rajendro Singh, Deputy Director, Dr. V. Haokip, Chief Medical Officer, Shri Manglem Singh, Deputy Director and Shri Bimolchandra Sharma, Asst. Director (Planning). (DIPR)