YAVATMAL: The Maharashtra government has in principle accepted the demand to set up an independent office of the Integrated Tribal Development Project at Pusad, in addition to the one functioning at Pandharkawda. This information was given to the press by sitting Digras MLA Sanjay Rathod here on Friday.

According to Rathod, he had earlier moved a cut motion on the floor of the house during the Budget Session of the State Assembly and drawn the attention of the government towards the urgent need to set up an office of the tribal development project. While answering the question, tribal development minister Babanrao Pachpute has accepted the proposal in principle and assured the member that necessary instructions would be given to the department in this matter.

"With the setting up of the office in Pusad, over 1.5 lakh tribals hailing from Pusad, Umarkhed, Mahagaon, Ner, Darwha and Digras would benefit, as these tehsils would come under the administrative jurisdiction of the new office," Rathod said.

At present there is a tribal development project office at Pandharkawda and the entire tribal community is under its jurisdiction. The tribals of all 16 tehsils have to go to Pandharkawda for any work, forcing them to spend huge amounts on bus fare, food and, in some cases, lodging.

In fact, the tribal project office at Pandharkawda is almost defunct and poor students of ashram shalas and tribal students' hostels across the district are suffering.

Red tapism and corruption are rampant in the institutions meant for tribals, Rathod said, adding that there is no control over the affairs of these tribal schools and hostels. Rathod has now urged Babanrao Pachpute to convert his assurance on the floor of the house into reality by setting up the new office.

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