Odisha to launch Rs 795 crore worth tribal development scheme

BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to raise the standard of living of the tribal population, the state government today announced of launching Rs 795 crore worth Odisha PVTG Empowerment and Livelihood Improvement Programme ( OPELIP).

"To ensure livelihood support to the Particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs), a special scheme OPELIP is going to be implemented soon with an overall outlay of Rs 795 crore," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said while presiding over the Tribes Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting here.

Over 62,000 PVTG families would be benefited from the OPELIP programme, Patnaik said adding the state government was committed to provide economic empowerment to the tribal population.

There are at least 13 different varieties of PVTGs in the state for whom 17 micro-projects were launched.

"For the OPELIP, we have taken up the matter with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for funding of the programme," said Surendra Kumar, secretary of ST and SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare department.

Stating that education holds key to the development of tribal communities in the state, the Chief Minister said the literacy rate among the tribes have reached 52 per cent from 37 per cent.