CUO conducts webinar on ‘Development, Public Policy and Changing Lives of Tribals’

Jeypore, Aug 27: The Central University of Odisha (CUO) conducted a webinar on ‘Development, Public Policy and Lives of the Tribals’ in its campus at Sunabeda. Eminent social activist and researcher Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Dr. Anil Dhir and eminent environmentalist and Wildlife expert Dr. Biswajit Mohanty delivered the lecture on the topic. The webinar was presided over by Prof. Sharat Kumar Palita, Vice-Chancellor I/c  of Central University of Odisha. In his presiding address he stressed the need for upliftment of the tribals but without affecting their original livelihood and culture. The University is the best source for generating public policies on different developmental aspects, he said. He also emphasized on holistic approach of tribal development issues and asked for taking of a broader aspect of research on tribal development in which different academic departments of the University can take part. In his speech Dr. Dhir discussed how tribals are affected by the wrong policies. The policies are meant for the tribals fails to fulfill the needs of the tribals. In the name of development the tribals forgot their own way of livelihood due to misguided policies, he added. For real development the tribals should be kept in their own livelihood. He also discussed about his journey on reviving of the Jagannath Sadak, from Kolkata to Puri. He also discussed about his recent publication on the tribal lives of Kondha and Gadaba tribes of Koraput. Dr. Mohanty in his addressed also stressed the need for abolishing all beneficiary programmes in the name of tribal development. He said that these programmes ruin the tribal lives and many tribes are in the verge of extinction. He showed his concern over the reducing of tribal population in Odisha. He stressed the need for more research on the livelihoods of tribals so that the tribals can be left in happiness without any disturbance. Dr. Pradosh Kumar Rath, Head I/c of Journalism & Mass Communication gave the welcome note and explained the purpose of the Webinar.  The vote of thanks was given by Dr. B.K.Srinivas, Asst. Professor, Anthropology.  The meeting was also participated by the faculty members of the University Prof. K. Kameshwar Rao, Prof. Bhagabat Patro, Prof. Krushna Chandra Pradhan, Dr. Kapila Khemundu, Dr. Minati Sahoo, Dr. Debabrata Panda, Dr. Alok Baral and Dr. Phagunath Bhoi actively participated. The meeting was attended by faculty members and students of the University.