Expressing concern over tribals not getting benefits from

MGNREGA in Odisha, Oraon said a large number of tribal families are migrating to other states. The NCST chairman said though there had been significant improvement in tribal lifestyle due to certain schemes, there is still a big gap between the adivasis and non-adivasis. While the literacy percentage among general people is 85 per cent, it was only 52 per cent for tribals. Of the total people living below poverty line (BPL) in Odisha, 36 per cent hailed from tribal communities. "Therefore, major poverty alleviation programmes should focus on adivasi communities," Oraon said. Health, education and road connectivity should be priority areas for overall development of tribals, he added.