A new policy for holistic development of tribal areas of the country is on the anvil. The Tribal Affairs Ministry will soon submit to Union Cabinet a proposal for approval to this effect. This was disclosed today by the Minister of Tribal Affairs, Mr. Kantilal Bhuria while inaugurating a workshop on preserving Tribal Heritage Agricultural Systems in New Delhi. <br/><br/>Speaking to reporters on sidelines of the function, the Minister said that 10 lakh landless tribal families have been provided ownership rights of the land after a legislation approved by Parliament came into force. He said 28 lakh such applications have been received from various states. <br/><br/>He admitted that the work on the transfer of land rights is slow in some states and said Centre government is supplementing efforts to ensure development of these backward regions of the country. He denied reports about dwindling tribal population and explained that their census-figures are not properly enumerated as they move from one state to another to earn their livelihood. <br/><br/>He added that this time people responsible for conducting census have been asked to keep this factor in mind. The Minister said that special schools for better education of tribal children are being set-up. Each school is estimated to cost 12 crore Rupees and some of them will start functioning this year itself. <br/><br/>The Minister evaded any direct reply on the development of the Naxal-affected tribal regions and said that the work in those areas is being looked-after by the Ministry of Home Affairs. He said the work of his Ministry is confined only to those areas which are not affected by Naxal violence. <br/><br/>Earlier, Mr. Bhuria highlighted the need to preserve traditional tribal agriculture systems. He said such experiments have been very successfully carried out in China and many other countries. In India, 10 states have started work on such projects and efforts are being made to provide them better marketing facilities. <br/><br/>The workshop on tribal agriculture heritage systems has been organised in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisation.<br/>