Friends of Tribal Society sets up think tank to help tribals

The Mumbai chapter of Friends of Tribal Society (FTS) headed by Pooja Agarwal, has organised a workshop on Monday where the first ever Mumbai Think Tank meet will be held under the guidance of acclaimed tribal activist, Manjushree from Calcutta.

The think thank will meet to discuss ways to eradicate illiteracy from rural areas, particularly among tribals.

"The vision embraces integrity, determination and commitment. The intention is to tap the potential of rural India that is still waiting to emerge and flourish, and come forth as the new face of India," said Agarwal.

According to Agarwal, "The tribal and urban worlds should coexist. The aim is to make the tribal community self-sufficient, improve their health and sanitation conditions, provide better education. We want to do all this by giving them confidence and not uprooting their lifestyle but by gaining their confidence. We want people from Mumbai to connect with us, the aim is to bridge the gap between the tribal world and the rest of the country," she said.

In the last few years, the efforts of FTS have made a positive impact on the life of tribals. According to Agarwal, FTS has organised classes focussing on cooking and tailoring. "Once a boy in Wada approached us asking 'why only girls were being taught these skills and why not boys'.