Bhubaneswar, Oct. 10: The University Grants Commission has sanctioned establishment of the Rajiv Gandhi chair professorship in tribal studies at the Central University of Odisha in Koraput for promoting tribal development activities in the Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput region.

The posts of one chair professor, one post-doctoral fellow, one junior research fellow and two technical assistants have been sanctioned for five years as a part of this project.

For this purpose, the commission has already sanctioned funds under the General Development Assistance Plan for 2013-14.

“The Koraput region is the right place for research studies concerning tribal development issues. Research and documentation on various tribal issues can be undertaken by the university through this funding,” said vice-chancellor Surabhi Banerjee.