The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) in collaboration with School of Tribal Legal Studies and Tribal Rights (STLSTR), KISS-DU organized the second lecture under the Viksit Bharat Lecture Series on 18th April 2024. Professor A.B Ota, Former Director and Special Secretary SCSTRTI and Odisha State Museum, Government of Odisha and Advisor UNICEF was invited as the distinguished speaker on the occasion. He spoke on “Programmes, New Initiatives, Good Practices & Challenges in Tribal Development”. The event was graced by senior functionaries, staff and scholars of the University.
In his Welcome Address, Professor Deepak Kumar Behera, Vice Chancellor, KISS-DU spoke about the formulation, projection and participation of tribal communities in Viksit Bharat. Dr. Sushree Sangita Mohanty, Assistant Professor, Anthropology Programme, KISS-DU in her introductory speech highlighted the numerous scholarly achievements of Professor Ota.
Professor Ota discussed about new initiatives and good practices in tribal development. He elaborately talked about different acts and policies, schemes, programmes and strategies of central government for tribal development, status of tribal development, factors of slow tribal development, selected human development indicators of tribals in Odisha, challenges in tribal development, suggested action and way forward for tribal development.
Drawing connection between the idea of Viksit Bharat and tribal development, he highlighted that there are 62 Scheduled Tribes communities and 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in the state. One third of tribals remain outside the TSP pockets. There are 14 tribal sub- plan districts in the state. Out of which 7 districts which are fully TSP districts and 7 are partly TSP districts. Districts have more than 45% tribal population. He also discussed about tribal languages and tribal dialects.
In the context of schemes and policies, he added that the various schemes and policies of tribals he discussed about 23 ITDA in 121 blocks, 44 MADA Pocket in 45 blocks, 20 micro projects for the PVTGs, 13 cluster pockets, several DTDPs and special development councils. He also discussed about various central acts and policies like Protection of Civil Rights, Prevention of Atrocities Act, prevention of Private Money Lending Act, Regulation on Transfer of land from Tribal to Non- Tribal, Prevention of Witchcraft Act, PESA Act 1996, Forest Rights Act 2006, LARR Act 2013, Tribal Sub-plan Approach, Bio Diversity Act etc. very lucidly. He also discussed about different schemes and programs for central govt. for tribal development like National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students, Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub- Scheme, PM PVTG Mission, Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsha Gramya Yojana, Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, Institutional Support for Development, Marketing of Tribal Products, support to National/ State Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Cooperation, Vandhan Vikash Kendra, Support to Tribal Research Information and Mass Education.
Professor A.B Ota underlined some of the important flagship programs like OPELIP, Mission Mo Jungle Jami, Focused Area Development Programe, Mission JIBIKA, Mukshya Mantri Janajati Jibika Mission, Promotion of Koraput Coffee Cultivation in Tribal Pockets of Koraput, OMBADC, 1000 Spring Initiative, Forest five, Jiban Samparki, SAMHATI, ANWESHA, Mission SUVIDYA, Life Skill Education by UNFPA etc.
In his lecture he gave emphasis on promotion, preservation and conservation of tribal culture. Although tribal development is happening in slow rate but the speaker is hopeful about tribal development.
The lecture series ended with a Vote of Thanks by Dr. Pragyan Mohanty, Associate Professor and Dean, School of Tribal Legal Studies & Tribal Rights, KISS-DU.
