By SANTOSH MOHANTY
The Special Development Council (SDC), which was established by government of Odisha in 2017 for initiating all round development of Adivasi communities in the state, has allegedly failed to take off. For instance, there has been no significant improvement of Konds and Gonds and other Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in the industry-rich Angul district. The regions like Athamallik, Pallahara and Kishorenagar have significant number of Adivasi and other tribal communities. According to the census of 2011, the scheduled Tribe (ST) constitutes nearly 22.85 percent of the total population of Odisha.
The SDC was set up in Odisha for all round development of tribal communities providing them good education and livelihood opportunities through skill development programmes and other initiatives based on their avocation. Reports said nearly Rs 3 crore was allotted to Angul district by SDC to initiate measures in the field of education and livelihood programmes for tribals in the financial year 2023-24, but till date nearly Rs 18 lakh has been spent.
This speaks volumes about the actual intention and the sincerity of the bureaucrats responsible for carrying out measures for improvement of the condition of tribal population in Angul district. The schemes are implemented through self help groups and Mission Shakti. But, there are allegations that misallocation of fund has come in the way for proper implementation of the projects aimed at improvement of the status of tribals on different sectors.
SDC Objectives:
One of the major objectives of SDC in Angul district is to consistently work for betterment of socio-economic status of the Adivasis. The SDC has to ensure that they get basic facilities in education, healthcare and livelihood sectors so that they can be brought into the national mainstream. The other important work of the SDC is to preserve and protect tribal dialects, traditions and their places of worship which they held in high esteem. The most important objective of SDC is to encourage the tribals in decision making process so that their voices can be heard in the power corridors of the state. The tribals lack basic facilities like road connectivity and potable water in most villages they reside located in the remotest corners of the state. Although efforts are on to empower women tribal groups by including them in self help groups and other income generating activities under Mission Shakti, a lot more has to be done through awareness programmes as the tribal communities have little knowledge about various welfare schemes implemented for their benefit.
Social activists working for bringing the tribal women into mainstream alleged that the skill development programmes through which vocational activities are conducted are not up to the mark. They alleged that trainers with adequate knowledge of vocational activities must be roped in by the administration to deliver the goods. The trainers must focus on small scale industries, livestock, agriculture and terracotta which are not alien to tribals or Adivasis of the region. The dropout rates among Adivasi children are very high in regions like Athamallik, Pallahara and Kishorenagar block in Angul district. Therefore, it is the responsibility of SDC to ensure that the tribal children are properly educated to acquire self confidence and achieve their goals in life. Preservation of tribal culture should be the prime goal of the SDC as festivals play a great role in societal bonding. However, financial support to cultural organizations in the tribal dominated regions in the district are allegedly not sufficient. A lot more has to be done for preservation of tribal culture, the activists added.
