MADANPUR-RAMPUR (ODISHA): Confidence of tribal youths can be boosted through education, President Pranab Mukherjee said.

Addressing a function in this tribal and Naxal-hit area, Mukherjee cited teachings of Swami Vivekananda and asked all to work for the socially-deprived to help in nation building.

"This region is considered backward and poverty-stricken. Members of Lok Sabha representing this area have many times raised various issues pertaining to this area in Parliament.

"What is to be done is to inject or instill confidence in youths and that confidence can come only through education," he said after inaugurating a newly constructed unit of Vivekananda memorial building at Shri Rama Krishna Ashram here.

Voicing concern over backwardness and scarcity in this area which comes under Kalahandi district, he noted that Madanpur-Rampur region was once home to a rich and glorious civilisation and its forest resources had earned it the name of 'Mahakantara' or 'Great Forest'.

Mukherjee appreciated the work being done by the Ashram for welfare of poor, especially children, living in the area.

The projects implemented by Ashram include establishment of facilities to provide education, lodging and coaching for tribal children, an innovative school, a residential training centre in agriculture and allied subjects, an old age home, a mobile allopathy unit, a mobile homeopathy unit, an Ayurvedic dispensary and a drug de-addiction centre.

These initiatives, he said, will make them self sufficient.

"I congratulate them for their devotion and dedication," the President said ..

Mukherjee praised a publication entitled "Bharat Parikrama-Kalahandi to Kashmir and Kanyakumari" brought out in Odiya language, saying it can help young minds understand what Swami Vivekananda wanted to convey.

Odisha Governor S C Jamir, Lok Sabha members Abhijit Mukherjee (Jangipur, West Bengal) and former Lok Sabha MP Bhakta Charan Das were among others present at the function.

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