Tura, Apr 29: Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram, has urged officials to enhance outreach and engage regularly with local stakeholders to ensure schemes effectively reach the tribal communities.
The union minister pushed for inclusive growth while chairing a high-level review meeting at the Circuit House in Tura on Tuesday to assess the implementation of key welfare schemes for tribal communities in Meghalaya, particularly the Garo Hills region.
The meeting, held as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directive for Union Ministers to visit Northeast districts, saw participation from senior officials across departments.
It evaluated major central initiatives, including flagship programmes, particularly the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), tribal scholarship schemes, and the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).
Oram emphasized the need for “effective outreach” and “inclusive development”, urging officials to streamline implementation and ensure benefits reach the tribal communities. He also proposed measures to improve service delivery and streamline program execution for greater impact.
A notable community demand raised during the session was the establishment of a nursing college in Tura to address gaps in healthcare and education infrastructure.
Addressing media persons after the meet, Oram highlighted the value of his field visit to a local village on Monday, saying “Engaging directly with residents provides critical insights into their challenges, enabling us to craft more effective policies.”
The meeting concluded with a call for stronger collaboration between central and local authorities to foster sustainable development and uplift Meghalaya’s tribal communities.
