Odisha’s unique tribal culture enriches the state and the country- Odisha CM

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday stated that the state and the nation are enhanced by the distinctive tribal culture of Odisha.

He virtually inaugurated the Janajatiya Gaurav Divas, stating that development is impossible without proper respect for culture. As part of the “Ama Odisha, Nabin Odisha” campaign, the state government is placing a strong focus on culture, he said. “We have expanded SDCs to 23 districts from the initial nine.” The chief minister said that the nine SDCs had received an additional Rs 175.5 crore in funding this year.

Speaking at the event, Jagannath Saraka, the minister of ST and SC development, stated that 1,000 dance troupes had gotten outfits to preserve their tradition, and 1,800 tribal organizations had received musical instruments. Since its inception in 2017–18, SDC has grown from nine to 23 districts, covering 173 blocks in under five years, according to commissioner-turned-secretary of the department Roopa Roshan Sahoo. Fourteen districts will be added in the 2023–24 fiscal year. The SDC has scheduled a state-level convocation for indigenous people for February 14, 15, and 16 of next year, with the goal of organizing 500 cultural events by March 2024. She added, “By then, we would have also started over 2,800 culture clubs throughout the state.”

Musical instruments and decorations were presented to tribal performers from various regions of the state during the event. Over 60,000 members of tribal cultural troupes under nine special development councils (SDCs) will profit from the move. The nine districts will receive dance outfits valued at Rs 11.63 crore for 818 troupes and musical equipment valued at Rs 7.49 crore for 1,891 tribal culture troupes. 2,709 tribal troupes with 67,500 artists in total will profit.