Bhubaneswar, July 23: Maintaining that a number of welfare programmes have brought improvement in the lives of tribal people, Governor Dr SC Jamir on Saturday, however, expressed concern over as the pace of progress could not be as desired even after 69 years of Independence.
He asked for an in-depth study at the ground level to make planning and approach meet actual needs of tribal people and deliver the results.
The Governor on Saturday convened a meeting on “Tribal development in Odisha” at Raj Bhavan wherein ST and SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Lai Bihari Himirika, department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Surendra Kumar, Director, ST R Raghu Prasad, Managing Director, TDCC Susanta Nanda and other senior officials attended.
Regarding approach of the administration, the Governor advised officials on bringing humane touch in the approach with love and concern.
Minister Himirika highlighted various steps being under taken by the State Government for development of tribal people.
Principal Secretary to Governor CJ Venugopal read out the action points for tribal development in the State. Constitution of Tribal Welfare Cell at Raj Bhavan to oversee the constitutional responsibilities under Schedule V to the Constitution, strengthening the institutions of Odisha Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Finance Development Corporations and Tribal Development Cooperative Corporations (TDCCs) and further activating Tribes Advisory Council were discussed among others.
Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Surendra Kumar presented a detailed account of steps taken in education for tribal children, increase in reservation of seats for ST and SC students in higher education including medical and engineering, separate recruitment drive to fill up back log vacancies from reserved categories and long term livelihood interventions. He emphasised on bringing social equality to remove social backwardness for tribals.