Oram slams Odisha govt for non-utilisation of Central fund meant for tribal devt

19 March, Berhampur (Odisha)

Union Tribal Welfare Minister Juel Oram today rapped the Odisha government for its ‘failure’ to properly utilise the Central government funds meant for the development of tribals in the state.

“The state government has neglected in delivering the utilisation certificate for the expenditure of funds for the tribals,” Oram said after attending a function of the tribals at Sabarapalli in Gajapati district on this afternoon.

During the last three years, the Union government had sanctioned Rs 13.5 crore to Odisha for the development of tribals and the scheduled castes people. But the state government had only submitted the utilisation certificate amounting Rs 2 crore last year despite repeated reminders from the Union government, the minister remarked.

Expressing his concern over the rising drop out of girls from the ashram schools in Odisha, Mr Oram said the state government must take some initiatives to check it.