The government says, there is no effect of demonetization in the tribal areas now. Briefing media persons about the achievements of his Ministry in New Delhi, Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said, as the transactions in tribal areas do not involve five hundred and thousand rupee high denominations, the effect of demonetization was not significant.<br/>'<br/>Mr Oram said, government is implementing various schemes and providing scholarships for education of STs. Over 13 thousand new seats have been created in ST hostels and ashrams schools during last two years. The Minister said, 70 percent of his ministry's budget for 2016-17 has already been released. Till October 2016, about sixteen lakh individual forest rights titles have been granted over an area of 55.43 lakh acres of forest land.<br/><br/>Talking about sickle cell anemia, the Minister said, his ministry has taken initiative to arrest its spread so that sickle cell carriers can be cared for and future generations saved from the scourge. A revised protocol has been issued to the states last month, as per which apart from children and youth, pregnant women to be screened.