KORAPUT: Tribal youths are lured by Maoists as the State Government has failed to address the problem of poverty, said tribal leader from Bargarh Pramod Kumar Jhankar here on Sunday.
Speaking at the State-level tribal community leaders’ meeting organised jointly by Odisha Adivasi Kalyan Mahasangha (OAKM) and Naxal Birodhi Hinsamukta Odisha Abhiyan (NBHOA) on Tribal Museum premises here, he said the rural youths must be weaned away from the Maoists.The Maoists create hurdles in implementation of different welfare schemes, he said.
Chief secretary of OAKM Niranjan Bisahi said while the State Government claims that about 20,000 posts meant for tribals are lying vacant, steps must be taken to educate and provide proper training to the tribal youths.
During the meeting, it was decided to form an All-Odisha Adivasi Bikash Sangharsh Samiti to take up tribal issues. The forum would launch agitations across the State, informed Bharat Bhusan, convener of NBHOA. Among others, tribal leaders from 15 districts took part in the meeting.