Bhopal, Mar 17: Tribal Welfare Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah today announced in the Assembly that primitive Baiga tribals residing in Sidhi district would be covered under a special survey within three months in order to provide them benefits of various welfare programmes.

Shah made this announcement in his reply to a call attention notice brought by Indrajit Kumar (Cong), who demanded that Baigas of Sidhi should also be included the special project for primitive tribals. Shah said Bharia tribals of Patalkot (Chhindwara), Baiga tribals residing in 1143 villages spread over 22 blocks in Mandla, Dindori, Shahdol, Anuppur, Umaria and Balaghat districts and Saharia tribals spread over 1159 villages in 26 blocks in Gwalior, Datia, Morena, Sheopur, Bhind, Shivpuri, Ashoknagar and Guna districts were covered under special development authorities for primitive tribals.

Initially Shah admitted to complete the survey in six months, but later agreed to reduce it to three months at the instance of Deputy Speaker Hazarilal Raghuvanshi.

Gauri Singh's loan figured in Assly

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Mar 17: Samajwadi Party (SP) legislator Kishor Samrite in the Assembly today raised the issue of former state SP President Gauri Singh Yadav taking a loan of Rs 6 lakh from a cooperative bank and demanded a probe into the matter. When the matter was raised during the Question Hour, Cooperative Minister Gopal Bhargava announced that the matter would be inquired and action would be taken against guilty officials.

He said Yadav had taken Rs six lakh as loan against Rs 10 lakh 'term' deposit in Sagar cooperative bank in the name of the SP. The loan amount was returned on October 27, 2005. Samrite said party fund should not be utilised for personal purpose. Hence, the entire matter should be probed. He demanded to know the name of the then Apex Bank Chairman.

The minister replied to the query but the Speaker expunged all statements related to the then Apex Bank Chairman. State SP President and legislator Narayan Tripathi wanted to know the reason behind the objection when the then SP President had deposited money in the name of the party and taken loan against it. Later, he returned the money. However, Samrite kept reiterating his demand.

Budget session curtailed

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Mar 17: The State Assembly's budget session is being curtailed and the House will be adjourned sine die on March 19 in place of April 4 as scheduled earlier. The Business Advisory Committee's report was read out by Speaker Ishwardas Rohani today. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra proposed that the report's recommendations be approved and that was done by voice vote.

The Committee set 30 minutes each for discussion on the Court Fees (Amendment) Bill 2008, Madhya Pradesh Private Universities Establishment and Operation (Amendment) Bill and Madhya Pradesh Cotton Control (Amendment) Bill. The session got underway on February 25 with Governor Dr Balram Jakhar's address. Total 22 sittings were proposed but the curtailment will mean a total 16 sittings.

New PR policy in MP

Bhopal, Mar 17: Madhya Pradesh Mineral Resource, Public Relations and Culture Minister Laxmikant Sharma today informed the Assembly that a new public relations policy would be announced soon. Replying to a debate on budgetary demands for his departments, he said, ''mediapersons' suggestions have been accorded pride of place in the policy.''

A diamond reserve was discovered in Bundelkhand region's Chhatarpur district. Madhya Pradesh mahotsavs would be conducted at Jaipur, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and other places next year. ''The government earned Rs 1,080 crore from mineral resource in 2007-08, a 67 per cent increase from 2003-04,'' the Minister said.

After his reply, demands exceeding Rs 109 cr were passed by voice vote.