Welfare schemes being drawn up for tribals Forest Minsiter K.T. Pachamal said the State government was making efforts to conserve forests and expand forest areas. Giving away financial assistance to several beneficiaries at the Gudiyatham Forest Range office on Tuesday, the Minister said the forest expanse had shrunk during the previous DMK government. “The Chief Minister has taken several measures to bring in greenery and ordered that 64 lakh saplings be planned across the State. Today, the State is turning green due to these efforts,” he said. Welfare schemes were being drawn up for tribals depending on the forest areas. “There are 20 schools run by the Forest Department across the State. The students have secured 96 per cent pass percentage this year. Giving importance to the education of the tribals and to motivate them, the CM had granted cash prizes to the toppers of class XII and X public examinations from these schools,” he said. While answering a request to lay a road linking Synagunda and Bangarupalayam through the forest area, he assured to take measures to lay the road. Currently, the villagers have to travel for nearly 40 kms from Synagunda to reach Bangarupalayam. If the road was laid, the distance would reduce to nearly eight kms. Among others, Chief Conservator of Forests (Planning and Development) T. Sekar, Conservator of Forests, Vellore U. Ravindran, District Forest Officer, Vellore division T.V. Manjunatha and MLAs C. K. Thamizharasan (K.V.Kuppam) and K. Lingamuthu (Gudiyatham) were present.