Integrated plan for welfare of PVTGs to be drawn up

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Oct 3, 2013 at 8:51 PM Updated On : Oct 3, 2013 at 11:57 PM

OST Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Oct 3:

The Odisha government on Thursday asked the concerned departments to work out an integrated development plan for fulfilling critical gaps in infrastructure development and livelihood promotion of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) living in remote parts of the state.

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Presiding over a high level review meeting at the State Secretariat here, chief secretary JK Mohapatra directed the SC and ST Development department to locate the areas of work for which no funding is available or funds provided are insufficient for the work.
The meeting decided to focus on areas like road connectivity, water supply, electrification, education, health and nutrition.

The chief secretary directed the department to integrate the land given to tribals under Forest Rights Act (FRA) and reflect it in their land holding status.

As per available data, out of a total of out of 75 tribes, about 13 PVTGs, living in 541 habitations spread across 20 blocks of 12 districts, have been identified in Odisha.

The meeting resolved to augment interventions in primary sectors through suitable non-farm and off-farm livelihood measures.
The chief secretary directed officials to prioritize development of basic communication infrastructure for plying of Janani Express and mini transport vehicles. The other objectives of the intervention will be infrastructure linkages for enhancement of livelihoods for 19000 PVTG households and strengthening of community level institutions.

Mohapatra directed the department to work out the projects and send it to the respective departments for examination of feasibility within a month while assuring that funds necessary for the purpose will be provided by the government.

He also emphasized that the women members from local community should be given priority for engagement in ICDS centres.
Among others, development commissioner Injeti Srinivas, additional chief secretary, Finance UN Behera, principal secretary, Water Resources Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, secretary, SC and ST Development Santosh Sarangi, secretary Panchayati Raj DK Singh, secretary, Energy PK Jena, secretary Steel and Mines Gudey Srinivas, secretary, School and Mass Education Usha Padhee and senior officials of the concerned department were present at the meeting.