Jamshedpur, July 24: Better late than never.

Five years after Jharkhand?s inception, the government has decided to hold a 10-day exposure tour for a select group of tribals to make them aware of their counterparts? feat in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Confirming the tour, deputy director of Jharkhand Tribal Research Institute said: ?We have received the request from the state welfare department to arrange the exposure tour. The department will also provide the necessary fund ? Rs 1.5 lakh ? for the tour.?

Department sources said the tour would probably be organised in the last week of August. The welfare department and the respective tribal research institutes of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have been requested to finalise the date, though.

?Once we get the confirmation of the dates from the departments, we will finalise the names of those, who would be taken for the tour. In the first phase, we will prefer scholars in tribal art and culture. Depending on their feedback, we will decide on the corresponding tours,? said sources.

The tribals taking part in the exposure tour would be made aware of the achievements of similar communities in the two states. They would also be given tips on how these people from Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have managed to upgrade their lifestyle.

There has been a sea change in the life of the tribals in Chhattisgarh after its inception. Most of them, particularly those involved in art and culture activities, are leading a decent life compared to those from Jharkhand.

?Except Seraikela Chhau dancers, most of the exponents of other art forms are leading an isolated life with not even enough resources for sustenance,? said officials.

The members of the touring team would be given a chance to interact with people in the two states and learn the methods to market their products. They would also be given time to interact with folk artistes. ?This has been planned to make the dancers and singers of the state get a chance to know the local style of those states and improve their skill,? said sources.

A senior officer in the department, who is also an eminent tribal scholar of the state, welcomed government?s initiative for arranging the tour. He, however, criticised the delay of more than five years in taking the decision.