BJD demands 169 more communities in ST list
The Bjd (Biju Janata Dal) on Friday demanded the inclusion of 169 tribal communities in the scheduled tribe category and threatened to hit the streets if the Centre did not fulfil its demand. Leader Pradeep Majhi said the Odisha government had already sent 169 proposals to include the tribal communities in the ST list, but the Centre was yet to take a call on this. On September 16, 2022, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had written a letter to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry to include the communities including Paudi Bhuyan Chuktia Bhunjia Durua and Dhurua in the ST 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, said Majhimajhi. The Bjpled Government at the Centre is neglecting the tribals of Odisha.