THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
JULY 18, 2026
Declaring that
governance is about serving the poorest and ensuring development reaches the
last mile, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday called upon the newly
appointed chairpersons and vice chairpersons of Odisha’s Tribal Development
Councils to dedicate themselves to the cause of tribal welfare with commitment
and patience. “Reach the last line of society and work for the people. That is
Antyodaya,” the Chief Minister said while addressing representatives of 23
Tribal Development Councils at the Lok Seva Bhavan Convention Centre.
Majhi stressed that
public office is not meant for enjoying power but for serving the most deprived
sections of society. He urged the council leaders to regularly visit villages
and tribal areas to understand grassroots challenges firsthand and ensure that
local issues are promptly brought to the attention of district administrations
and concerned departments for effective resolution. Emphasising that his
government believes in action rather than words, he encouraged the
representatives to adopt a ‘Yes, We Can’ spirit while working for the welfare
of tribal communities.
Highlighting the
significance of tribal development in Odisha, the Chief Minister noted that
nearly one-fourth of the state’s population belongs to tribal communities, many
of whom continue to lag behind in development. He called for sincere efforts to
accelerate their socio-economic progress while preserving their unique
language, art, and cultural heritage. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s mantra of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” (Development as well as Heritage),
Majhi said Odisha must pursue development without compromising its rich tribal
traditions and cultural identity.
The Chief Minister
also outlined several initiatives being implemented by the state government for
tribal welfare, including reservation in technical education, the Shaheed Madho
Singh Assistance Scheme, enhanced pre-matric scholarships, and support for
micro-enterprises under the CM Tribal Livelihood Mission. He further
highlighted key Central government programmes such as Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan,
Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan, and PM Janman, adding that Odisha has
received ₹18,371
crore under Article 275(1) of the Constitution for tribal
development and welfare.
Tribal Development
Minister Nityananda Gond said the Tribal Development Councils were constituted
to ensure that development reaches the grassroots while protecting and
promoting tribal art, culture, and heritage.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg described the appointment of both a male and a female representative to each council as a progressive initiative that would contribute significantly to achieving Odisha’s Vision 2036.
Development Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh and Tribal Welfare Commissioner B. Parameswaran also attended the meeting.
