Gadkari calls for prioritising skill education in tribal areas, policy rethink

Nagpur: Advocating for a rethink on policies implemented over the years in tribal areas, Union minister Nitin Gadkari emphasised that skill development was key to bringing tribal people into the mainstream. The govt has identified 500 blocks to increase the participation of tribals in the GDP, he said.

Gadkari was addressing the First International Symposium on Tribal Health (FIST-2025), organised by Maharashtra University of Health Sciences in collaboration with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, at AIIMS auditorium on Sunday. He pointed out the need for infrastructure development in tribal regions, prioritising skill education, traditional industries and economic empowerment.

He stressed the importance of creating products from bamboo to meet global demand and mentioned a project to produce fuel from bamboo in tribal areas, which would provide employment and reduce transportation costs for raw materials. "The biggest challenge we face is eliminating the social, economic, and educational backwardness in tribal areas," he said.

"The govt is continuously working towards this goal, prioritising the development of tribal-dominated districts. However, collective efforts are needed for inclusive development. The state and central govts are running several schemes. But we need to rethink these schemes. Odisha has a skill university. Similarly, Gadchiroli will need skilled manpower for its steel industry. Within five years, Gadchiroli will be paying the highest GST," he said.

The Union minister pointed out that the situation in tribal areas is critical, with numerous challenges in the education and health sectors. "Consequently, these districts are plagued by social, educational, and economic backwardness. Currently, the service sector contributes 52 to 56 per cent, the manufacturing sector 22 to 24 percent, and the rural sector 12 to 13 percent to the country's GDP. To increase this contribution, the govt has prioritised the development of remote areas, identifying 500 blocks for this purpose."

He further stressed that tribal areas are predominantly forested, posing challenges in creating roads and irrigation facilities. "Comprehensive development of tribal regions is essential, which requires creating employment opportunities. For the past 25 years, through the late Laxmanrao Trust, we have been running 1,600 single-teacher schools in Gadchiroli, employing 1,800 teachers. We witnessed how quality education can bring about significant change," he said.

Surjagad has high-quality iron ore, and a steel project commenced there created employment opportunities for thousands. "Previously considered a Maoist stronghold, the area has seen 500 Naxalites surrender and gain employment. In the future, there will be engineering colleges, polytechnic colleges, and driving schools. The development issues in tribal areas will be resolved through such efforts," Gadkari said.