Koraput, Feb 21: The Central University of Odisha (CUO), Koraput and the Council of Analytical Tribal Studies (COATS), Koraput signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for next three years to collaborate on issues of research and development concerning tribal and tribal areas of Odisha especially the undivided district of Koraput.

On behalf of the CUO Dr. Asit Kumar Das, Registrar and on behalf of the COATS Dr. P.C. Mohapatro, Director signed and exchanged the MoU in the presence of CUO Vice-Chancellor in-Charge Prof. S.K. Palita and COATS Professor Jagabandhu Samal on the dais and officials and faculty members of both the institutions.

Prof. Palita expressed interest in the MoU to work in focused areas of social sciences, biodiversity, and journalism and highlighted its role in promoting the development of the marginalized sections of the society. He said “in the recent NITI Ayog survey Koraput has been placed as the number one/or most improved aspirational district of the country in the field of Education. The culture, the traditions of the tribal need to be maintained and their economic status needs to be improved. However, increasing deforestation and depletion of natural resources is a case concern in the era of climate change. The signing of MoU is need of the hour in which both the institutions jointly support each other for the benefit of the Koraput region and especially for tribal life and livelihood”.

This is the renewal of the earlier MoU signed between the two premier institutions of academic excellence for the period 2017-2020 on the basis of which they cooperated in promoting mutual academic interest, providing expert support for tribal welfare and community development, undertaking collaborative research, exchanging academic information and resources and using academia infrastructure and organizing lectures, conferences and seminars. Dr. P.C Mohapatro hoped that this renewed of MoU will help to promote the language, literature, art, culture and livelihood of tribal.