Needy ST/SC Students To Get Rs 50K Each For Degree Course: Odisha CM

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will provide one-time financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to needy ST/SC students from underprivileged backgrounds, pursuing general degree courses in any government institution in the state, from this year, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said while addressing the meeting of Tribes Advisory Council here on Tuesday.

The CM said that the government has been initiating sustained interventions to improve socio-economic conditions and realise the educational needs of the tribal communities. “Education, livelihood and protection of their rights have been our focus area.”

He said that Odisha is one of the leading states in providing residential facilities to tribal students. “Hostel facilities are available to more than 6 lakh students from 4.2 lakh households in 1735 schools functioning under the department. In last 20 years, the number of High Schools under ST&SC Development Department has almost doubled, from 215 to 422. Similarly, 62 Higher Secondary Schools have been opened for providing Higher Secondary Education,” he said.

Naveen further said that  Special Development Councils have been playing a vital role to focus on promotion, protection and preservation of the tribal culture and traditions, heritage, and identity by involving people of the community. “This year, the progamme has been expanded to 172 blocks of 23 districts, covering more than 84 lakh ST people,” he added.

He also spoke about “Mo Jungle Jami Yojana” to ensure right to hold and live in forest land to all eligible ST forest dwellers and’Mukhya Mantri Jivika Mission’, one of the largest exclusive tribal livelihood promotion initiatives. “With a budget allocation of Rs 500 Crore, the scheme will provide support to 1.5 lakh tribal households in 121 TSP blocks of the State over a three-year period from 2022-23 to 2025-26.”

The CM informed that Odisha has submitted a proposal to Union Government for expansion of the Odisha PVTG Empowerment & Livelihoods Improvement Programme for implementation in newly notified one thousand one hundred thirty-eight PVTG villages from 2024-25 onwards for a period of 7 years.