Odisha’s Tribal Advisory Council Holds Inaugural Meeting, Sets Agenda for Justice and Inclusion

Bhubaneswar: The newly constituted Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) of Odisha held its first meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, marking a significant step in addressing tribal rights and development. Formed in November, the council will serve for a fixed tenure of two years and is expected to steer critical decisions to uplift tribal communities.

Chief Minister Majhi reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring justice and securing the rights of tribal populations. Highlighting the importance of the ORV Act, he stressed the need for safeguarding the interests of Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste children. The Chief Minister also emphasized efforts to integrate tribal communities into the mainstream while preserving their unique identity and culture.

One of the key decisions during the meeting was the approval of amendments to Regulation-2 of the Transfer of Immovable Property (By Scheduled Tribes) Regulation, 1956. This amendment, originally proposed in July 2023 and subsequently cleared by the state Cabinet in November 2023 and January 2024, aims to prevent the transfer of tribal property to non-tribals.

To address the financial needs of tribal individuals for essential purposes such as marriage, higher education, and business, the council agreed to explore alternative loan facilitation mechanisms. Another milestone decision was the adoption of a proposal to include the Mundari language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, with discussions underway for the inclusion of other tribal languages.

Discussions also covered the draft Odisha PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) Rules, with plans for further deliberations to ensure comprehensive implementation. A state-level workshop with tribal representatives has already been conducted to garner grassroots insights.

In addition to policy decisions, the state government announced the launch of the Shahid Madho Singh Hatakarcha Yojana on January 5. This initiative aims to promote higher education among tribal students and reduce dropout rates by providing an annual incentive of ₹5,000 to students in classes 9 and 11. Moreover, under the Shaheed Lakhnan Nayak School Transformation Programme, 705 schools will be converted into model schools to enhance educational standards.