PM wants to know tribals ‘mann ki baat’: Oram

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to know the 'Mann ki <g data-gr-id="28">baat</g>' of the tribals in areas hit by Naxalism to restore their faith in government, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said on Sunday.

He also slammed the previous UPA government at the Centre for its "bureaucratic" approach in engaging with tribals.

"The focus under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to reach out to the tribals in <g data-gr-id="37">Maoist affected</g> areas to know their '<g data-gr-id="35">mann</g> ki <g data-gr-id="36">baat</g>' for their holistic development and restore their faith in the government," Oram told a news agency.

"The previous UPA government had a bureaucratic approach in engaging with them which led to <g data-gr-id="22">trust</g> deficit. "Tribals were oppressed by the previous government's decisions. They had experienced good governance during the NDA regime under the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and now again the Modi dispensation has rekindled their hopes," he said.

The minister said unlike in the past when the Centre made available funds on the suggestions of the state governments, the new NDA dispensation wanted to ensure the tribals had a say in their development.

"In the past, we used to give whatever the state governments would ask for. Now we do not give Rs 100 crores just like that. We go into the details of the projects proposed by the state and ensure that tribals have been roped in while formulating the provisions. The aim is to ensure that the tribals are able to reap the benefits meant for them," he said. 

The government, Oram said, has been holding regional consultations where stakeholders in tribal development are being asked for their views to cater to the needs of the tribal population in an effective manner.