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Include tribals in mainstream: Governor

BHUBANESWAR: Budhua Munda, an octogenarian tribal from Sundargarh district here on Friday claimed to have never cast a vote in his life. His contention was, “when I was born free why I should create a master for me by voting.”

He was not alone who spoke on the same lines. Sanaka Munda and Lokra Munda from the same district held similar views.

As intellectuals all over from India assembled here to discuss critical issues in tribal development at the national seminar organised by SCs and STs Training Institute, an apex tribal research, these elderly leaders spoke out their mind.

“Besides, many from the tribal population felt that there was more subjugation under present “democratic” regime,” they say.

When B. D Sharma, former civil servant with more than 50 years of experience in tribal development programme, stood to address the gathering, his presentation reflected more of dejection as many tribal welfare schemes could not be implemented true to their spirit.

“The vision of self-governance that tickled the imagination of tribal people with potential of ending the longstanding confrontation between State and tribal, should be made functional forthwith in keeping with the spirit of Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act,” Mr. Sharma said.

The veteran expert on tribal development cautioned that partial implementation was bound to be dysfunctional as had been the case with Tribal Sub Plan in 1970s and PESA in 1990.

Earlier Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare inaugurated the national seminar.

Mr. Bhandare emphasised on mainstreaming of tribal population by making them stakeholders in all development projects in the country.

Chaitanya Prasad Majhi, Minister of ST & SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare, Tara Dutt, Secretary, Bhupindar Singh, a former civil servant with vast experience in tribal development and A.B. Ota, director of the institute, were present on the occasion.

Mr. Ota said as many as 284 tribal communities speaking about 105 languages and 225 subsidiary languages were found across the country.

They constituted 8.40 per cent of total population and each community irrespective of its number came to occupy a place on its own in national life retaining its own identity and culture, he said.

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