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-The Economic Times<br />
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Tribal affairs minister VKishore Chandra Deo is best known for engaging Cabinet colleagues through carefully-crafted letters to get his point across. From preventing the dilution ofForest Rights Act to a directive to governors to stop mining in tribal areas, the 66-year-old activist-minister believes in winning over Cabinet colleagues politely. And he has proved one doesn't have to be outspoken, like some of his colleagues, to get work done. <br />
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Yet, Deo, descendant of a tribal king from Andhra Pradesh's Araku, is known for raising uncomfortable but potent issues. His latest missive was to governors of 9 states that have Scheduled-V tribal areas. He asked the governors to invoke special powers to stop illegal mining in tribal-dominated areas. Only last year did he write to Andhra governor ESL Narsimhan, pointing out specific illegalities in bauxite mining leases in Araku. He argues that illegal mining promotes spread of Left-wing extremism. And he spares not even his party's government: &quot;It is most shocking and revolting that certain state governments, for instance, state government of Andhra Pradesh, where higher echelons of powers are themselves trying to brazenly distort not only the laws but constitutional safeguards against the interests of tribals and other dwellers in forest areas,&quot; his recent letter to governors said. <br />
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Deo is now one of the most vocal voices on tribal rights. His repeated efforts to stop bauxite mining in Araku have finally paid off. The Centre has asked AP to cancel MoU signed with a private company. &quot;This is the result of his efforts,&quot; an aide said. He said Deo has an immense capacity for follow-up and research. &quot;He reads up and gets to the bottom of the problem,&quot; the aide added. He recalls how Deo sat in a meeting with ministry officials for almost five hours. &quot;He wanted to finalise the new guidelines under Forest Rights Act and could not understand why the bureaucrats were opposing the move, pushed by the National Advisory Council and social rights activists.&quot;<br />
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Recollecting the meeting, Deo told ET, &quot;I wanted to settle the matter. It was an important issue for my ministry. So I told my officials - either you convince me or I will convince you. Either way, we are not leaving this room till the matter is settled.&quot; <br />
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As the chairman of Parliament's committee on public undertakings he suggested how losses could be curbed during merger of Air India and Indian Airlines. While examining the working of national printing press he wanted to know why the printing of national currency was outsourced in one instance. <br />
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It may surprise many to know that Deo is a thorough Congressman. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1977. In 1979-80, he did his first stint as minister of state for steel. He has handled several party responsibilities too. He is a trusted lieutenant of Congress presidentSonia Gandhi, who is believed to take Deo's views, especially on AP, very seriously.<br />
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