Page 66 - SocialHarmony

70 Social Harmony

them, why not for a tractor or for higher education? Our
government has sent the children of tribals to Canada for higher
education, spending upto rupees five lakhs. Individually, it
might be a small step, but it symbolizes the change of direction.
Representatives of other states such as Rajasthan and
Maharashtra visit Gujarat to study our style of working for tribal
development known as the “Gujarat Pattern”. This is only
because Gujarat provides an ideal example of the service and
development of tribal areas.

The Power of Management
In the past, the financial assistance to villages was

determined in Gandhinagar. A village might require a well and
the government would sanction a tank. What use is a tank
without a well? Even if a village has a road, the government
would plan another road. There is no guarantee that the plans
made in air-conditioned rooms in Gandhinagar would benefit
the common people of the state. That is why under the Gujarat
Pattern, we have formed committees in tribal areas, entrusted
money in their hands and asked them to decide the area of
development in their villages. This government has given a total
of ` 1,54,508 crores to the tribal people in backward areas in a
short span of time, and completed more than 61666 projects. I
believe that no other state has achieved such a big target for
tribal development in the past. We have succeeded because we
placed trust in them, worked according to their needs and gave
priority to their welfare. This has led to an organized and
powerful management of financial assistance to the tribals.

Partnering with People in Villages
The Gram Sabha is a right step in the direction of

development. During a Gram Sabha, a villager can question a
government officer about pending proposals in the presence of
50-100 people who attend such Gram Sabhas regularly and keep
track of the work being done in their village. This system has
given people the courage to discuss problems related to the
sanitation, cleanliness, road, or even school. The Gram Sabha