Govt committed to tribals’ development: CM

The BJD Government is committed to the overall development of the tribals and would continue to maintain it, said BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurating a function organised by the party’s tribal front on the occasion of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (World Adivasi Day) here on Thursday.

Patnaik said the party is always working for bringing the tribals to the social mainstream and it believes in work and inclusive growth. The aim is to develop and take welfare measures for upliftment of the tribals and tribal areas, he said.

He said that education is the biggest guarantee of development and progress; and the BJD Government has been stressing on the progress of tribal children. It’s a matter of pleasure that his Government’s efforts are turning successful as many tribal children today have established themselves in various fields of activities, he said.

Mentioning about the recently-inaugurated Gurupriya Bridge in Malkangiri district, the Chief Minister said, “The bridge has been dedicated to the Adivasis and would pave a path of progress for the people of Swabhiman areas.”

Patnaik also expressed his pleasure over setting up of a statue of Saheed Birsa Munda at Chandrasekhapur in the capital city on the occasion of the Kranti Divas (August 9). He paid rich tributes to Saheed Laxman Nayak, Saheed Birsa Munda and other freedom fighters.

ST and SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patsani, BJD Adivasi Sammukhya convenor Sudam Marndi and others also spoke on the occasion.

Members of different tribes from the tribals-dominated districts presented various cultural programmes.