Guv to spend night in tribal village

Ms Soundarajan said she would pursue with the Centre the proposed tribal university in Mulugu district

Reviewing tribal welfare schemes in Raj Bhavan with senior officials, Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan said she would like to make a visit to a tribal village “and stay back there for a night to understand the cultural divide and their native problems”.

She said that as a medical student, she had visited remote tribal areas of the Andaman Islands along with her friends to render voluntary services.

She said she would pursue with the Centre the proposed tribal university in Mulugu district which needs the Union Cabinet's clearance.

The Governor told officials to encourage and develop entrepreneurship among tribal youth, particularly in the area of herbal medicine. She advised officials to document the medicinal value of herbs and roots known to local tribal communities.

Tribal welfare secretary B.M.D. Ekka told her about government initiatives for the socio-economic and educational development of the community.

He said that over 2.25 lakh students are studying in educational institutions meant exclusively for tribal communities. Several students were being encouraged to study in premier educational institutions such as IIT, NIT and other central universities and a few have appeared for the civil services examinations and two of them have cleared the exams held recently.

Earlier, the Governor took part in dances with the Koya and Lambada cultural troupes of Bhadrachalam and Nagarkurnool districts.