Gujarat Tribal Development Minister Ganpat Vasava on Tuesday said the Gujarat government would increase the annual income limit for people of the tribal community to avail financial assistance for education from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh. The significant announcement was made in the Gujarat Assembly in response to various demands and representations made by members of the Opposition Congress and others with regard to the budgetary demands of the Tribal development department (TDD).
Referring to Congress MLA Anil Joshiyara’s demand to raise the income limit for tribal people to avail of the financial assistance in education, Vasava said in the Assembly, “We are thankful to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel for agreeing to our demand. After meeting them, it has been decided to increase the income limit from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh.”
Speaking of the budgetary demands, senior Congress MLA from Bhiloda constituency Anil Joshiyara had raised a number of issues such as diversion of funds meant for tribal people to other schemes that are not exclusively for tribal people, forest land rights for tribal people, and people obtaining fake community certificates.