Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has been taking sustained interventions to improve the socio-economic conditions and realise the educational needs of tribal communities, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday.
Addressing the Tribes Advisory Council Meeting, the Chief Minister said, “Education, livelihood and protection of tribal rights have been our focus area. Special Development Councils have been playing a vital role to focus on promotion, protection and preservation of the tribal culture and traditions, heritage, and identity by involving tribal people. This year, the progamme has been expanded to 172 blocks of 23 districts, covering more than 84 lakh ST people.”
Education is a key to socio-economic upliftment. Odisha is one of the leading states in providing residential facilities to tribal students. Hostel facilities are available to more than 6 lakh students from 4.2 lakh households in one thousand seven hundred thirty-five schools functioning under the department. In last 20 years, number of High Schools under ST&SC Development Department has almost doubled, increased from 215 to 422. Similarly, 62 Higher Secondary Schools have been opened for providing Higher Secondary Education, he highlighted.
A one-time financial assistance up to Rs. 50 thousand to needy ST-SC students from underprivileged backgrounds pursuing general degree course in any government institution in the state will be provided from this year, he added.
Stating that Odisha is considered as a pioneering State in the implementation of Forest Rights Act, he said the State has launched a new scheme “Mo Jungle Jami Yojana” to ensure right to hold and live in forest land to all eligible ST forest dwellers. It would ensure recognition of Community Rights over forest land.
Funded by the State Plan, the State has introduced Mukhya Mantri Jivika Mission as one of the largest exclusive tribal livelihood promotion initiatives. With a budget allocation of Rs 500 Crore, the scheme will provide support to 1.5 lakh tribal households in 121 TSP blocks of the State over a three-year period from 2022-23 to 2025-26, he said.
Odisha has submitted a proposal to Union Government for expansion of the Odisha PVTG Empowerment & Livelihoods Improvement Programme for implementation in newly notified one thousand one hundred thirty-eight PVTG villages from 2024-25 onwards for a period of 7 years, he added.
