Parliamentary caucus demands more allocation for plain land Adivasis

The parliamentary caucus on indigenous affairs yesterday expressed its frustration over the block allocation of Tk 20 crore for over 20 lakh plain land indigenous people.

It demanded that the government increase the budget allocation to Tk 100 crore and set up a separate ministry for the indigenous people of plain land for effective implementation of the allocation.

The caucus members were addressing a press conference on "Indigenous and National Budget 2015-16" at the Media Centre of Jatiya Sangsad.

Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum and technocrat member of the parliamentary caucus on indigenous affairs, said the size of the budget of 2015-16 fiscal is Tk 2,95,100 crore. He added that although more than 20 lakh indigenous people live on plain land, only Tk 20 crore is allocated for them. "It is pathetic. Not a single word was uttered about indigenous people in the budget speech of the current fiscal year, although previous budgets had dedicated one paragraph to them. It is a mystery why issues of indigenous people are dropped from the speech," he said. 

Drong further said a separate and special allocation to enhance skills of indigenous youths is needed.

The caucus chief, Fazle Hossain Badsha, was in the chair.