Union Minister for Tribal Affairs JualOram sounded critical of the newly constituted Special Development Council covering nine districts with tribal population in Odisha.
It is remarkable that for Odisha alone, under Central grant and tribal sub-plan, Rs 57321.98 lakh and Rs 53125.79 lakh respectively have been granted during last four financial years. It is regrettable that these funds have not been utilised for development works to benefit the tribal people, he said.
The special grants given by the Centre to States under Article 275 are intended for developmental works pertaining to tribals but in Odisha, the funds are diverted to promote BJD party programme, Oram alleged.
He accused the State Government of ignoring the PRI representatives of the tribal population in the scheduled areas.
What is the meaning of their development without their representatives’ participation in formulation of policy for them, asked the Union Minister. Eleven Ekalavya Model Schools have been allotted to Odisha so far, but there is no sign of any progress even for a single school, he lamented.