CM Naveen Patnaik Inaugurates Hostels For ST/SC Students

CM Naveen Patnaik Inaugurates Hostels For ST/SC Students

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday inaugurated 71 hostels including three Akanksha Hostels for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) students at various places in the state through video conferencing. The three ‘Akankhya hostels’ are located at Berhampur, Sambalpur, and Rourkela. 

An estimate of 5.7 lakh SC/ST students staying in about 6700 hostels would be allotted Mo Chhatrabas cards to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of the hostel facility.

The disbursement of post-matric scholarship to 50,000 ST/SC students through Odisha State Scholarship portal was also carried out and so far, an overall of Rs 101 crore has been already transferred to the bank accounts of the students.

Another initiative, Samhati, for up-scaling multilingual education has also been inaugurated in the same event. This is an initiative to address language issues of 1.5 lakh tribal students in early grades. It has been launched across 1,450 schools run by the SC/ST Development department.

A new initiative, Prayas, has also been launched which enhances skill development training and placement linkage to 7,560 SC, ST, OBC and minorities youths through Odisha Skill Development Authority (0SDA).

The CM emphasized on the need for literacy for their social development of SCs and STs in Odisha and praised the State Government for giving importance to the education of these minorities because of which they are now excelling in different fields.

The programme was moderated by The Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian and Ranjana Chopra, SC/ST Development Secretary gave the inaugural speech. The event was graced by Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, Development Commissioner PK Jena and senior officials.