Kolkata: West Bengal government on Monday offered a job to Rita Toto, the first woman graduate among the near extinct Toto tribal community of the state.
"The decision has been taken at the state cabinet meeting to encourage the Toto community," state Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee said while briefing reporters about the meeting.
"The first Toto woman graduate Rita Toto will be appointed as Social Welfare Officer under Backward Class Welfare Department," Chatterjee said.
Rita graduated in humanities from a college in Jalpaiguri district in 2010.
The Totos, whose population is around 1,200, live in a single hamlet, Totopara, in Jalpaiguri district.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently said her government was keen on preparing a special plan for the protection of the Toto community, which is on the verge of extinction.
To ensure more importance to the tribals in the state, Banerjee also announced a separate department of Tribal Affairs which would remain with her.
The state, however, also has a Backward Classes Welfare department under Upen Biswas, a former CBI additional director.
PTI
