Bhubaneswar: In a significant political shift, the Odisha state government on Wednesday dissolved all 23 Special Development Councils (SDCs), which had been set up across the state’s tribal-dominated districts by the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) regime.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved the proposal to dismantle the SDCs, citing their lack of functionality and failure to meet their intended objectives. The councils were originally conceptualized by Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during his tenure. The SDCs were inaugurated on September 21, 2017, in nine districts, aiming to promote the development of Odisha’s tribal communities, which include 62 distinct tribal groups and 13 particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs).
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The districts initially selected for the SDCs included Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, and Koraput, all of which are home to large tribal populations. These councils were intended to involve the tribal population, which makes up nearly 23% of Odisha’s total population, in the development process.
In May 2023, in a strategic move ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the BJD expanded the SDCs to 14 additional districts, further increasing the reach of these councils. The new districts included Balangir, Ganjam, Boudh, Balasore, Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Kalahandi, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Angul, Bargarh, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, and Deogarh.
However, the dissolution of the councils has highlighted the political tensions surrounding them. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has long criticized the SDCs as merely a political tool to rehabilitate tribal leaders loyal to the BJD. The chairpersons of these councils were accorded the status of ministers of state, while vice-chairpersons and members received statuses equivalent to zilla parishad officials.
Critics point out that the nine original SDCs met only once since their establishment, raising questions about their effectiveness. Despite receiving substantial financial grants, including Rs 351 crore allocated for 2023-24 and Rs 226 crore in the vote on account for 2024-25, the councils failed to deliver on their promises, leading to their ultimate dissolution.
This decision marks a turning point in the state’s approach to tribal development and will likely have significant implications for the upcoming elections.