Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday inaugurated upgraded infrastructure of 3000 “sacred tribal groves” and 400 tribal cultural clubs in nine districts through a video conferencing from the Secretariat here.
Patnaik felicitated tribal artists of nine special development councils operating in those tribal dominated districts of the state.
The Chief Minister also dedicated new facilities for tribals that have been completed by the tribal councils in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts.
“It is our duty to preserve the tribal arts and culture,” Patnaik said after inaugurating the facilities. He said the special development councils have been operating as expected.
At least 25,000 tribal artists have been provided with artisan cards, he said. The state government in March, 2018, had constituted special development councils in nine tribal dominated districts where activities were going on to preserve and conserve culture and traditions of 62 categories of tribals including those belonging to particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG).
The councils provide musical instruments for cultural clubs, dance costumes to troupes and sports kits.
The councils also work to set up tribal museums to preserve tribal art and culture, officials said.
Patnaik talked to tribal artistes through video conferencing and also released three books on tribal culture.
However, the BJP asserted that as per Article 244 of the Constitution, it is the Governor’s duty to decide the nature of implementation of welfare programmes of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities.
Stating that tribals constitute 23 per cent of Odisha’s population, BJP spokesperson Pitambar Acharya alleged the chief minister has been misusing the power of the Governor on this aspect.
He alleged the state government has not convened a meeting of the Tribal Advisory Council for several years.
Projects worth Rs 9.59cr launched in M’bhanj
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Baripada, Feb 26: Projects worth Rs 9.58 core were inaugurated in Mayurbhanj during the district-level ‘Janajati Samavesh’ held here Tuesday.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik interacted with tribal leader Rohidas Singh Munda through video conferencing from Bhubaneswar at the Samavesh, presided over by Dr Debashish Marandi, the chairperson of the Special Development Council.
Assembly Deputy Speaker Sananda Marndi, zilla parishad chairperson Sujata Murmu, Collector Binit Bhardwaj, MLAs Bhadab Hansda, Bijay Nayak, Prabin Bhanjdeo, Ganeswar Patra and several tribal leaders were present at the meeting.
The tribal leaders hailed the Chief Minister, saying he has been trying to develop the tribal communities economically, socially and culturally by forming SDCs.
The Chief Minister inaugurated several projects through video conferencing.
The projects inaugurated included 39 tribal haats at a cost of Rs 1.95 crore; 56 cultural halls worth Rs 2.80 crore and preservation of 161 tribal shrines at a cost of Rs 4.83 crore.
The event was followed by cultural programmes.
PNN
