Govt extends social welfare schemes to Vanarmare tribe
Panaji:
The social welfare department on Monday interacted with the Vanarmare tribe at Nirankal-Ponda to create awareness about govt schemes. It was found that although in dire need, none of the tribals benefited from any social welfare schemes, including educational schemes of govt.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The social welfare department has several pre and post matric scholarships that the community was not aware of let alone availing benefits of it.
The traditional occupation of the tribe, as their name suggests, involved killing monkeys and making a living by selling their meat. However, most have kept their bows and arrows aside to comply with the forest and wildlife acts to work as daily wage labourers.
'We found that the community has senior citizens and disabled persons, but none of them are availing themselves of the
.
We felt it was our duty to reach out to this community and explore the possibility of extending govt schemes to them,' said director of social welfare Ajit Panchwadkar.
A special camp will be organised with the panchayat to complete documentation and required formalities to extend benefits to the primitive tribe, he said. 'Although documentation will be a hurdle, it is our duty to resolve it for them. They are the most underprivileged community, cut off from society, and it is our responsibility to extend a hand to them,' Panchwadkar said.
The team, also comprising deputy director Medora D'Costa, assistant director Rashmi Rawal, district welfare officer Anette Gomes, and the village panchayat secretary and field worker of Bethora Nirancal, interacted with the community and explained various schemes of the social welfare department to them, who were largely unaware of them.
TOI
reported in the past that the community was deprived of all govt welfare schemes meant for the underprivileged class of society, as they didn't possess any documents to establish their identity.
TOI
also reported that members of the tribe voted for the very first time in the 2017 assembly elections.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
My School My Responsibility scheme gets good response
Mysuru: The 'My School, My Responsibility' scheme, launched by the department of literacy and school education, received a good response in Mysuru district. The dept collected Rs 2 crore in donations from senior students for the improvement of the schools they studied in after forming the senior students' association. CM Siddaramaiah promoted the scheme in his home district, by contributing Rs 10 lakh from his pocket for the development of the schools where he completed his primary education — Siddaramanahundi and Kuppegala Schools, Mysuru taluk. The scheme emphasises that each student has a role to play in ensuring their schools are positive and productive. The department has already constituted more than 2,000 such alumni associations in about 2,000 lower and primary schools across the district. Some students working abroad or outside the state transferred funds to the dept's bank accounts opened for this purpose after reviewing the status of the schools they studied in. The department received tables, chairs, other furniture, dining tables, computers, and projectors for smart classes. It also received funds for school repairs, construction of compounds, setting up drinking water purifier systems, establishment of libraries, laptops, benches, notebooks, and for painting and modernisation of the schools. The nodal officer, Pushpalatha MB, said that the formation of alumni associations is not only helping govt schools with their upgradation and empowerment of students, but also attracting students to govt schools with improved infrastructure. It also helped the department increase enrolments in school, improve the quality of education, attendance, and comprehensive development of the schools. Speaking to TOI, DDPI Javaregowda said the My School, My Responsibility scheme received an overwhelming response after its launch in Mysuru. Siddaramaiah donated Rs 10 lakh for the school he studied in, under the scheme, encouraging the development of state-run schools. Grants from old students Government higher primary school of Kumbara Koppal received Rs 1.8 lakh in grants from its old students. Govt urdu lower primary school (LPS) of Rajivnagar received Rs 5 lakh, Govt LPS of Periyapatna taluk received Rs 1 lakh and Govt LPS in Lashkar Mohalla recieved Rs 1.4 lakh. Basava Marga foundation donated a school bus for the Govt School in Kukkarahalli. Alumni donated funds ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1 lakh under the scheme so far. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Aspirants Take AI Reality Check Before Taking Poll Plunge
Nagpur: Artificial Intelligence (AI) can do a lot many things that can help improve efficiency and productivity on individual or organisational level, but can it predict how an aspirant will fare in an election? That's no longer a question, but something that's already being tried and tested. In fact, AI is the latest trend in poll strategy with aspirants seeking "advice" about their chances of winning, before throwing their hat in the ring. Some poll strategy/survey companies are now offering an AI-driven analytics services to prepare a full report on the chances (in percentage) an aspirant has in a particular ward, based on past poll records, political competition, ground surveys and issues which are connecting with people. An aspirant from North Nagpur, who wanted to check his prospects in the upcoming civic body elections, got such a report from a Mumbai-based company. The aspirant told TOI that it was a cost-effective way to get a reality check. "It's like a marriage kundli-matching report," he laughed while explaining the concept. "For less than Rs 3 lakh I get this report which provides me with a neutral view on what my chances are, regardless of what my supporters say or what I feel. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo This way, I can decide whether or not to spend a lot of money in the entire poll campaign," said the aspirant. This AI generated testing-the-waters report works out best for poll aspirants who are not career politicians, though the data is crucial for every category of aspirant. Successful businessmen and moneybags who are keen to try their luck in politics still keep the 'economic viability' of their new venture in mind. This poll aspirant got TOI in touch with two others who also got the report made, and said "it helps a lot". One of them said, "The report is very detailed and we got it in Marathi only. A team came down here and did the survey and two weeks later I got the report. The chart showed us which issues are important in the ward and which party is the preferred one. Then there was an advice on what issues I will have to focus on for victory. But my report gave a low chance of me winning, so I am thinking whether or not to contest." Through these poll aspirants, TOI got in touch with the company in Mumbai, which prepared the reports. Speaking on behalf of the company, Chaitanya Wadekar said even before internet came, surveys were being done. "What has changed now is how the data is collected and most importantly – due to advent of AI – how that data is analyzed and presented," Wadekar said. Wadekar said, "AI predictive model becomes better as more data pours in. We feed it with our intensive ground intel, combined with old poll results, demographics, issues etc to get a more detailed response. Our digital AI-driven database also identifies local influencers, be it social media stars, activists, lawyers, community leaders, who each can swing a few hundred or even a thousand votes in favour of the candidate. " Poll aspirants also get a dedicated online dashboard, in Marathi too, and at the click of the button they can see a comprehensive interactive report. The third poll aspirant TOI spoke with said, "Everyone enters polls to win, nobody says I am here to lose unless you have an agenda to cut votes. And at the civic body level, candidates have to mostly put up their own funds. So, the more accurate information you can get, the better. " Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Telangana workers living in Israel endure harrowing night of missile strikes near Tel Aviv
Hyderabad: Telangana workers residing in Ramat Gan, a city near Tel Aviv, experienced an unprecedented night of fear and disruption as missile attacks by Iran on the night of June 13-14 triggered repeated air raid sirens and defensive action from Israel's Iron Dome system. 'We spent a sleepless night with sirens wailing continuously as the attacks persisted. Unlike previous incidents, where sirens would sound and then quieten, this time the threat was real and sustained. We could actually hear the missiles and the Iron Dome intercepting them,' a Telangana worker in Ramat Gan told TOI on Saturday. Ramat Gan, home to around 1,000 workers from Telangana—mostly employed as construction labourers or caregivers—has rarely faced such direct threats, even during past conflicts involving Hamas. Workers, who typically live in older buildings equipped with basement bomb shelters, would usually take temporary refuge during sirens and return to their apartments within minutes. But this time was different. 'As the missile barrage continued through the night, many of us moved to newer buildings with larger shelters,' said Soma Ravi, president of the Telangana Israel Association. 'Each flat in these buildings has a designated 'safe room', and the basements offer more spacious shelters. We needed a place where we could remain for hours together,' he told TOI. Many workers in Ramat Gan recalled the harrowing experience of rushing to safe rooms as missiles rained through the night. What was earlier a brief routine of seeking shelter turned into hours-long confinement as the sirens kept blaring and explosions echoed around them. 'For the first time, we had to shift to newer buildings with larger bomb shelters, highlighting the severity and unpredictability of the situation this time,' a worker said. Ravi, who had planned to fly to Hyderabad to meet his daughter visiting from the US, had to postpone his trip as Tel Aviv's airport operations were suspended following the Israeli govt's declaration of a state of emergency. 'I was looking forward to being with my family in Hyderabad. But with the airport shut, I've had to delay my travel plans. I'm hoping the situation improves soon,' he said. Even as workers remained safe, the intensity of the attack was evident. 'Debris from a shot-down missile fell near my building,' one Telangana worker said, underscoring how close the danger came. Despite the tense night, the community is safe and resilient—but for many, it was an experience unlike anything they had faced before. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
