By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, FEB. 7. The Maharashtra Governor, Mr. P.C. Alexander, has said the impact of the Tribal Sub-Plan and Special Component Plan being implemented across the country for the past 21 years has not been as satisfactory as originally desired. In the same context, he raised some pertinent issues and sought the Madhya Pradesh Government's views on them.

Mr. Alexander, who is also chairman of the Committee of Governors constituted by the President for the appraisal of schemes for welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, was reviewing the implementation of these schemes in Madhya Pradesh at a meeting held at the Raj Bhawan here earlier this week. The other two members of this committee - the Orissa Governor Mr. M.M. Rajendran and Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand - also attended the meeting which was presided over by the Madhya Pradesh Governor, Dr. Bhai Mahavir.

Mr. Alexander wanted to know whether or not full attention has been paid to the economic component of the ST/SC welfare programmes for empowering the people. He also asked about the mechanism employed for creating a scenario where the deprived sections could find avenues to come out of subsistence economy and create permanent assets.

Mr. Alexander referred to a Land Development Bank Scheme under which good land could be purchased at market rates and distributed among SC and STs along with pumpsets and wells. This can be done in the next 15 years. He pointed out that lack of hostels is a major cause for lack of education among girls of these sections.

He sought to know whether involvement of NGOs should be continued in educational programmes. He also sought the views of the Madhya Pradesh Government regarding the need for special steps to ensure their admission in professional courses. He further asked as to what special steps could be taken to improve maternity care and also invited suggestions for better enforcement of the Prevention of Atrocities Act.

The Orissa Governor, Mr. M.M. Rajendran, while emphasising that education was essential for ensuring the welfare of the people, said the available funds should be properly utilized. A holistic approach was needed to solve them. He also stressed the need for improving the primary health facilities and augmenting employment opportunities for the weaker sections.

The Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, said it is the need of the hour to restore individual dignity of the scheduled castes people and to maintain social harmony while making arrangements for housing, land and employment for them.