Bhubaneswar, Sept 4 (PTI) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday approved the dissolution of all the 23 Special Development Councils (SDCs), which were established to focus on preserving tribal culture, traditions, heritage, and identity, the CMO said.

The previous BJD government had initially formed the SDCs in nine tribal-dominated districts - Maurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Koraput - in 2017 in order to ensure the development of the areas through its welfare schemes.

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In 2023, the Naveen Patnaik government formed SDCs in 14 more districts apparently keeping an eye on the 2024 elections.

It is alleged that the BJD leaders were appointed as chairman and members of these councils at the time.

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(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)