BHUBANESWAR: Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday questioned the state government's sincerity towards the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes , who comprise 40% of the state's population.Pointing out that the government has not bothered to appoint a full-time secretary for the ST and SC welfare department, ever since then secretary Surendra Kumar was shifted as chief electoral officer six months ago in February, Dharmendra made a series of tweets on the state of affairs of the department. Notably, R Raghu Prasad, an Indian Forest Service officer, is the in-charge secretary of the department.The tribal advisory council should meet at least twice a year. However, it met for the first time in three years in June.Referring to a Class X tribal girl being forced to commit suicide in Malkangiri district because she was sexually abused by her school headmaster, Dharmendra said the same reflects the state of residential schools being run by the department. The poverty, education, health and livelihood of SCs and STs continue to remain a big challenge, he added.Countering Dharmendra, Sudam Marndi, BJD MLA and convenor BJD Tribal Front, said the Naveen Patnaik government has undertaken a series of welfare measures for SCs and STs. The government has set an example for the country by forming tribal development councils in nine tribal-dominated districts, he said.Marndi said apart from tribals' growth and development, the government is also committed to protect and promote their unique art, culture and tradition.

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