New Delhi: Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that Odisha has a Scheduled Tribe population of 95,90,756. He cited Census 2011 as the latest available data.
The minister tabled the statement during a House sitting. He also outlined central schemes supporting tribal welfare in Odisha.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides grants to Odisha under several national programmes. These schemes focus on infrastructure, education, health, and livelihoods.
The Centre launched the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan on October 2, 2024. The mission covers over 63,800 villages across the country. It aims to bridge infrastructure gaps and improve basic services. The programme targets more than five crore tribal beneficiaries. It has a total outlay of Rs79,156 crore, Oram, as reported by PIB india, said in Rajya Sabha.
The government also runs the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan. It launched the scheme on November 15, 2023. The mission focuses on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. It seeks to provide housing, drinking water, sanitation, health, and livelihoods within three years. The total allocation stands at about Rs24,000 crore.
Another key initiative is the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission. The scheme promotes tribal livelihoods by supporting forest and non-forest produce. The ministry implements it through Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India. States receive funds to set up Van Dhan Vikas Kendras. These centres help with value addition and marketing, according to the minister.
The Centre also supports Eklavya Model Residential Schools. The scheme began in 2018–19 to provide quality education to tribal students. The government plans to establish 728 such schools nationwide, Oram noted. These schools will benefit around 3.5 lakh students.
