Tribal Special Development Councils non-functional in Odisha, say vice-chairpersons

Six months into their appointment, vice-chairpersons of 23 Special Development Councils (SDCs) — constituted to strengthen grassroots governance and oversee the implementation of welfare programmes in Odisha’s tribal areas — have said they are unable to function smoothly due to administrative constraints.

The vice-chairpersons wrote a joint memorandum to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, stating, “The powers relating to administrative, executive and financial matters, along with operational guidelines, may kindly be issued at the earliest to facilitate the smooth administrative and financial functioning of the offices.”

They also drew attention to the lack of basic office staff, including an executive assistant, computer operator, office assistant, accountant and attendant, saying these were essential to make the offices functional.

“As no official vehicle has been provided, it is difficult for us to undertake official tours and discharge our duties effectively,” the vice-chairpersons wrote. They sought permission to hire private vehicles until official ones become available.

They also sought hassle-free access to the State Secretariat, requesting vehicle passes to facilitate their visits to government offices.

The Mohan Charan Majhi government appointed vice-chairpersons to the 23 SDCs on April 6, 2026, around one-and-a-half years after dissolving the councils formed under the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government.

Purpose of SDCs

The SDCs were established to strengthen tribal identity by preserving the culture and heritage of Odisha’s 64 tribal communities, including 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Initially, nine councils were constituted, and the number later expanded to 23, covering tribal communities across 172 blocks in the State, with an estimated population of 84 lakh.

In September 2024, three months after coming to power, the Mohan Charan Majhi government dissolved the 23 SDCs constituted during the BJD regime.

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Despite the appointment of new vice-chairpersons, the councils have remained largely non-functional amid administrative hurdles. The issue also figured in a meeting between BJD tribal cell leaders and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday (October 10, 2026).

“Tribal people are the most neglected under the Odisha BJP government. Schemes for tribal welfare, such as the SDCs, are not being implemented,” Mr. Patnaik said.