Speaking to ANI, the BJD leader emphasised that the state government's policies have focused on both the cultural preservation and the modern advancement of tribal communities. She specifically mentioned the establishment of Special Development Councils (SDCs) as a landmark achievement. The transformative programmes launched during the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government brought revolutionary changes to the lives of tribal communities." The empowerment of tribal communities was not merely a promise; it was at the heart of all tribal development programmes undertaken by the BJD government," he said. Patnaik further said the party's fight to include 169 tribal communities of Odisha in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list will continue.