Arguing that tribal people living within forests need to be brought to the mainstream, Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya has said that the government will be investigating funding and other details of non-governmental organisations which “make a living by keeping the issue alive rather than solving it”. The Minister told presspersons here on Tuesday that the department would serve notices to NGOs if they were found to be flouting norms or blowing issues out of proportion to get foreign funding. “A number of NGOs do good work, but there are some who create trouble,” he added. He said the emphasis should be on educating tribal people and providing them alternative livelihood options. “No doubt the forests belong to tribal people. But I have noticed during my visits that those who till land inside forest area are not able to do so anyway because there is problem of wild animals. So most migrate out in search of work,” he said.

Asked if the reluctance of tribal people to be mainstreamed is because of poor compensation, he said the government was committed to providing alternative land.

Tribal people living within forests need to be brought to the mainstream, says Anjaneya