BHUBANESWAR: Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu has all praise for the tribal community of the state while addressing the 50th convocation ceremony of the Utkal University here on Saturday. He said that unique customary practices and traditions of tribals have been credited for keeping the Covid-19 infection at bay. Quoting a study by scheduled castes and scheduled tribes research and training institute (SCSTRTI), Naidu said that the tribal population in Odisha was largely untouched by the Covid-19 pandemic. “The study notes that by habit, the tribals walk mostly in rows, instead of in groups; and while walking, they maintain a reasonable distance from one another. Such safe distancing and hygiene norms, rooted in the tribal culture coupled with the natural food have helped them stay safe during pandemic,” he added.