Laikera, Kirmira become state’s 23rd ITDA

Bhubaneswar: The state government on Tuesday declared Laikera and Kirmira blocks in Jharsuguda district as the 23rd Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) of Odisha. The state government has created nine new posts for this new ITDA. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik approved the posts and said tribal development and welfare programmes will be accelerated in these two blocks with the formation of the new ITDA.
It can be noted here that Laikera and Kirmira blocks are home to tribal communities like the Gonds, Bhuiyans and Kisans. There also lives tribes like Munda, Kol, Oraon, Sabar, Kharia and Sara. In Laikera, the number of tribals comprises 51.78% of the block’s total population while in Kirmera, their number stands at 18.46%. TNN