Tribal languages: 90 teachers appointed

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has imparted training to 200 teachers by the Tribal Regional and Culture Academy in residential sevashrams and sevashrams in eight districts during the last two years for teaching regional tribal languages. While 25 teachers have been trained to teach Kui language in tribal schools of Kandhamal district, 27 teachers will teach Koya language in Malkangiri district. Training has also been imparted to 23 teachers each in Desia and Saura languages for Koraput and Gajapati districts respectively. Similarly, 27 teachers have been trained in Ho language while 24 have been given training in Mundari language. Ho and Mundari languages will be taught in tribal schools of Koraput and Sundargarh districts respectively. Official sources said 90 teachers had been appointed on contract basis in eight tribal-dominated districts. Ten more teachers will be appointed soon. The teachers, appointed on contract basis, are getting salary of ` 3,050 each. The State Government has sanctioned ` 4.95 crore in 2010-11 out of the funds from the Revised Long Term Action Plan (RLTAP) for construction of 10 hostels for Scheduled Caste students with a capacity of 100 each. The hostels are under construction. Measures have also been initiated by the Government for construction of more hostels for the tribal students. Official sources said the State Government sanctioned funds for construction of 288 boys hostels and 1,040 girls hostels in 2009-10 and 1,393 boys hostels and 65 girls hostels in 2010-11. While 345 hostels were completed by October, 250 more are in finishing stage. Steps have also been initiated by the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe Development Department for strengthening security measures in tribal girls hostels.