Let tribals decide for themselves

BHUBANESWAR: Explaining how the present policies regarding tribal empowerment are flawed, UNESCO’s former Prof Yogesh Atal said developmental policies should be based on characterisation of tribal population.Speaking at the inaugural session of the national seminar, organised by the department of Anthropology, Utkal University, speakers of the seminar gave an overview of the major issues surrounding the tribal people and their empowerment.In his address, Atal questioned as to why is everyone discussing tribal empowerment even after six decades of Independence, whereas the paradigm should have shifted towards acceleration of developmental policies.On the recent controversy of ‘Human Safari’, Delhi University Anthropology Prof Vinay K Shrivastava said it is for the tribals to decide for themselves what they want and what they do not want. Utkal University Vice-Chancellor PK Sahoo also spoke.