Friends of Tribals Society (FTS) was conceived out of the idea that the tribal population are much exploited due to their lack or no access to education. But there was difficulty in implementing the idea due to the location of the schools. Establishing schools in the towns would not have solved the problem. The tribal children, who mostly reside in remote villages, would not be able to access schools in distant towns. On the other hand, opening up schools in rural areas would have lead to different kind of challenges, like getting teachers with right educational qualifications.
Inspired by Vivekananda’s enlightening philosophy that if a child cannot go to school, the school should go to the child, Ekal Vidyalaya took shape to embody one village – one school – one teacher concept. To resolve the issue of getting the right teaching staff in the rural areas, Ekal Vidyalaya also decided that a Class 10 pass–out youth of the village would be appointed as the teacher after undergoing through vigorous training programme by FTS.
Finally on January 15, 1989, FTS was formed by some like–minded people. The Organisation started to raise assets for intensifying the work and with the endorsement of all, the name of our Organisation was christened as “Friends of Tribals Society.”
In the underlying years, FTS has been instrumental to generate help for various ventures of Odisha, which included Medical Centres, Hostel Buildings, Mobile Medical Vans, Motor Cycles, Training focuses and a Hanuman Temple at Baliguda.
As on date, Friends of Tribals Society has 34 chapters.
Empowerment of crores of Tribals and Rural brethren of Bharat by making them socially strong, educationally aware, economically vibrant and self-reliant so that with their involvement our Mother Bharat reaches the pinnacle of glory.