The 11-day Adivasi Mela, organised by the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department, ended on Monday drawing a crowd of over 10 lakh people. The event also witnessed a significant business volume, surpassing Rs 5 crore.
Among the distinguished guests at the Valedictory Ceremony of Adivasi Mela 2024, ST/SC Development, Minorities, and Backward Classes Welfare and Law Minister Jagannath Saraka graced the occasion as the chief guest. The event also saw the presence of Advisor, Special Development Council (SDC), Pradeep Majhi, Advisor, ST/SC Caste Development, Sarojini Hembram, Advisor, Minority Affairs, Tahera Khatun, Advisor, Backward Classes Affairs, Pruthviraj Sahoo, and Advisor, Anwesha and Akankhya Scheme, Elina Dash.
While Commissioner-cum-Secretary ST, SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department, Roopa Roshan Sahoo, and Managing Director Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation of Odisha Limited, Dr Poma Tudu, joined as guests of honour, Member Secretary, Academy of Tribal Languages and Culture, Indramani Tripathy and senior officials of the department were also present.
Notably, the prize distribution ceremony included the felicitation of six best performing students from the State Level Tribal Painting Competition organised by SC/ST Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI), recognition for 32 best-performing students in the State Level Essay Competition in tribal languages by SCSTRTI, and accolades for 104 best performing students in the HSC Examination of 2023 from high schools run by the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department.
Further honours were extended to 14 best performing students from CBSE Class X Board Exam-2023 at Eklavya Model Residential Schools for diary writing and mountaineering courses. The prize distribution also featured felicitation of 50 best performing tribal high schools, commendation for nine outstanding tribal individuals for their significant contributions in agriculture and horticulture, and applause for the three best tribal huts (four winners) showcasing tribal life.
Additionally, the ceremony celebrated the success of the best-performing tribal vendors (members of Women Self Help Groups). Special recognition was given to the tribal dance and drama troupe performing on the valedictory day.