BJD demands 169 more tribes in ST list
The Bjp (Bharatiya Janata Party) has demanded that 169 tribal communities be included in the Scheduled Tribe category, and threatened to hit the streets if the Centre does not fulfil this demand. The Odisha government has already sent 169 proposals to include these communities in the list, but the Centre is yet to take a call on this. On September 16, 2022, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote a letter to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry to include these communities, including Paudi Bhuyan Chuktia Bhunjia Durua and Dhurua in the list. The state government has given several proposals at different points of time, but the Centre is not taking any necessary steps in this regard. The tribal leader said the Centre is neglecting the tribals of Odisha, and that the BJP has already gauged the mood of the people during the panchayat election. The Centre is shedding crocodile tears for the tribals, but actually it is indifferent to the issues faced by the tribals. These particular adivasis do not get government facilities because they are not included in the list. The Bjp will not take this issue lightly.