Bhubaneswar, Aug 09: The Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, called for the inclusion of 169 communities in the state's Scheduled Tribe (ST) list and the recognition of several tribal languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
Patnaik, who also serves as the president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), made these demands while attending a function at the party's headquarters to mark International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.
During his address, Patnaik highlighted that the BJD government had previously submitted a proposal to the Central Government, seeking the inclusion of 169 communities in the ST list of Odisha. However, the proposal has been pending with the Centre for a long time. He also emphasized that the BJD government had consistently urged the Centre to include various tribal languages, such as Ho, Mundari, Bhumij, and Saura, in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
Expressing hope for a positive response, Patnaik noted that tribals make up nearly 25 percent of Odisha's population. The state is home to 64 major tribes and 13 particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG).
Patnaik further mentioned that, during his tenure, the state government had implemented several measures to preserve and promote tribal culture. This included naming various institutions after prominent tribal leaders. He also highlighted the formation of a Special Development Council, a unique initiative in the country, aimed at protecting tribal culture.
