Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik Sunday called on citizens to respect the wisdom of indigenous people, fight for the protection of their cultural identity, and demanded scheduled tribe status for 169 communities in the state.
Patnaik was addressing a function held at Sankha Bhawan, the state headquarters of BJD, on the occasion of the World Indigenous Peoples Day and August Kranti Diwas.
Claiming that BJD was the best friend of tribals and continued its fight for their rights and dignity, Patnaik advised everyone to respect the knowledge of the tribal people and work sincerely for the protection of their culture.
Referring to formation of Special Development Councils (SDC) in 23 of the 30 districts of Odisha during the BJD tenure, Patnaik said his government made the tribals equal partners in development.
They became stewards in preserving their own sacred sites, arts, crafts, music, and traditions while improving their livelihood, the former five-time chief minister said.
The SDC was a model for preserving tribal art, culture, traditions and sacred places while ensuring their participation in development, he added.
The policy of the previous BJD government was to empower the tribal brothers and sisters and create opportunities to live in their own land with dignity, Patnaik said, highlighting his initiatives for tribal education, livelihood and empowerment-hostels, ‘Anwesha’ programme, forest rights and more.
He recalled several initiatives by BJD during its tenure from 2000 to 2024, including the gram panchayats being empowered to the right to collect minor forest produce.
We have all along stood firmly with tribals for their rights and ensured improvement in their living standard in Odisha, he claimed.
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The BJD president said that during his chief ministership, the state government had submitted a proposal to the Centre seeking inclusion of 169 tribal communities in the ST list.
This has not been done so far and the BJD will continue to fight for it, he said.
Tribals who constitute about one-fourth of Odisha’s population remain the focus of all the political parties, including the BJD, ruling BJP and the Congress.
Patnaik also paid tribute to freedom fighters on the occasion of the August Kranti Diwas.
