BHUBANESWAR: State govt will explore alternative solutions to assist tribal communities in addressing needs such as weddings, higher education for children or business endeavours through loans, so that they are not forced to sell their lands.
The first meeting of the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), chaired by chief minister Mohan Majhi, on Tuesday rejected a proposal to amend Rule-2 of the 1956 Land Transfer Act, to check transfer of tribal lands.
The council, formed in Nov 2024, has a tenure of two years. Majhi said, “State govt is committed to ensuring justice for tribal communities in all areas and safeguarding their rights. The new council will take significant decisions in the coming two years.”
Emphasising the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (by Scheduled Tribes) Regulation, 1956, Majhi highlighted the importance of delivering justice to STs and SCs. He assured that all necessary measures would be taken to integrate tribal communities into the mainstream.
A proposal to include the Mundari language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, along with discussions about other tribal languages, was discussed in the meeting. A state-level workshop involving block and district-level tribal representatives, as well as MPs and MLAs, will be organised to conduct detailed consultations on Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996.
State govt will launch the Saheed Madho Singh Hath Kharcha Yojana on Jan 5, offering an annual stipend of Rs 5,000 to students enrolled in classes IX and XI to reduce dropout rates and encourage higher education. Additionally, steps are being taken to convert 705 schools under the Saheed Laxman Nayak School Transformation Programme into model schools, official sources said.
