Keonjhar: Shrines of tribal people will be developed with funds provided to the Special Development Council (SDC) in Keonjhar district, a report said.
For fiscal 2017-18, the district has received Rs 19.50 crore while each block will be allocated Rs 1.5 crore to carry out developmental works.
The SDC was formed March 9, 2018 with an aim of protecting and promoting tribal languages, culture, traditions, livelihood, education and age-old shrines and sports. Besides, the SDC is supposed to set up community halls and cultural clubs, to form dance troupes, to promote sports and take them to various parts of the country on tours for cultural exchanges.
Ramray Munduya, chairman of the SDC, stated the council has undertaken various developmental and other works in the last five months.
Meanwhile, 309 shrines of tribals have been identified for development and approved by the SDC in the district. The development work of five shrines will be taken up by the end of this month, the SDC chairman said.
Besides, 30 tribal dance troupes and 30 tribal cultural clubs have been approved after a survey, he said, adding 750 tribal people were taken on pilgrimage to various places in three phases.
“By the end of the current year, over 300 shrines of the tribals will be developed while 50 cultural clubs will be set up. Besides, awareness programmes and various tribal cultural programmes will be organised,” Munduya said.
This apart, special facility will be provided to tribals at market places for selling their produce while tribal sportspersons and artistes excelling in their respective fields will be encouraged, Munduya added.