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Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007
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Novel project designed to benefit tribals

Staff Reporter

Blueprint already prepared

Plan submitted to Union Ministry of Tribal Welfare
It’s a departure from conventional plan

BHUBANESWAR: Over two decades after several micro projects were established for focused development of Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) in the State, the Orissa government is all set to embark upon a new development model.

This time, the State Government has prepared a blueprint, Conservation-cum-Development (CCD), for PTGs with an aim to achieve their development without disturbing their cultural philosophies.

The CCD, focusing on 13 PTGs residing in 17 micro project areas, was submitted to Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs recently.

Orissa could be the first State to prepare such development outline.

Priority

According to the SC and ST Research Training Institute (SSRTI) that prepared the CCD, priority has been given to education in the five-year perspective plan for which Rs. 65 crores has been sought.

“This is a plan, which is a departure from conventional plan in the sense that it has taken into consideration of both conservation and development,” says SSRTI Director A.B. Ota.

Economic status

“We hope that if the plan is implemented properly, socio-economic status of PTGs will improve considerably,” he says.

The CCD plan will cover 18,493 households residing in 547 villages under 69 gram panchayats of 12 districts across the State.

Before preparing the CCD plan, the SSRTI has conducted household survey of villages under 17 micro project areas.

Survey

During the survey it was found PTGs achieved around 30 per cent literacy compared to overall 37 per cent tribal literacy in the State.

Health services

Similarly, access to health services by PTGs was poor and road communication to their habitations needed improvement. Similarly, not every habitation is supplied with safe drinking water.

Under the new model, agencies will try to protect traditional horticulture being practiced by PTGs.

Moreover, there will be special effort to upgrade skills on tribal art and craft. Formation of cultural troupes by PTGs will also be encouraged.

Educational complexes

It is proposed to set up educational complexes, which will have integrated approach to preserve tribal culture as well as help children excel in their academic pursuit.

Orissa houses 62 tribal groups of which 13 belong to PTGs in comparison to 75 PTGs found in the whole country.

Micro projects targeting PTGs have been established at 17 locations. Some of them were set up in 1978.

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