Bhubaneswar: To preserve and promote tribal culture, the Special Development Council (SDC), operating under the ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department distributed musical instruments and dance costumes to tribal cultural troupes across 9 SDC districts. This was done in a state-level event at the Convention Centre, Lok Seva Bhavan to mark the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.
Musical instruments worth Rs. 7.49 crore were provided to 1,891 tribal cultural troupes, while dance costumes valued at Rs. 11.63 crore were distributed among 818 troupes across 9 districts. The collective impact of this initiative will benefit 2,709 tribal troupes, positively affecting approximately 67,500 individuals from tribal communities.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, extending his wishes through a video message, emphasized the pivotal role of tribal culture in enriching the state and the nation. He stressed that culture is integral to development, and as part of the ‘Ama Odisha, Nabin Odisha’ initiative, the government has expanded Special Development Councils to 23 districts from the initial 9.
The Chief Minister announced an additional allocation of funds, amounting to Rs 175.5 crore for 9 SDCs, benefiting over sixty thousand tribals. He urged the recipients to utilize these resources for the promotion of their culture.
ST & SC Dev., M & BCW Department, and Law in Odisha, Minister Jagannath Saraka, highlighted the government’s commitment to protecting and promoting tribal culture through the establishment of SDCs. Minister Saraka noted that over 1,800 tribal groups have received musical instruments, and 1,000 dance troupes have been provided with costumes, contributing significantly to cultural preservation.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary of ST & SC Development, M&BCW Department, Roopa Roshan Sahoo, shared, “Launched in 2017-18, the SDC has rapidly expanded its footprint from 9 to 23 districts, covering 173 blocks in just five years, with an additional 14 districts added in the 2023-24 financial year.”
Sahoo revealed ambitious plans, including the organization of 500 cultural festivals by March 2024 and a state-level conclave for tribals on February 14, 15, and 16, 2024. The department aims to establish over 2,800 culture clubs across the state by these milestones.