ST students studying in national level institutions are given 100 per cent assistance: CM
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik presiding over the Tribes Advisory Council Meeting in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. (Photo: SNS)
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reaffirmed his commitment to tribal upliftment and asserted that the government is out to ensure that every tribal child gets the best possible education.
All ST students from Odisha, studying in National Level Institutions are provided 100 per cent assistance to take care of their entire costs of education apart from the scholarships, by the State Government from 2014-15 onwards, he said.
The CM was addressing the Tribes Advisory Council meeting here on Thursday when he outlined the focussed approach of his government. Odisha is unique and blessed to have 62 Scheduled Tribes including 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups which constitutes 22.85 per cent of the total population of the State.
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The government is committed towards providing economic empowerment, enhanced livelihood opportunities, education and skill development which shall lead to true development of our tribal population. He noted that the government has established unique Special Development Councils in nine tribal dominated districts.
The Councils are empowered to take decisions to preserve and promote their culture, sports and other developmental needs. The CM went on to list out his achievements stating Odisha continues to be the best performer in the country in implementation of the Forest Rights Act with the distribution of 4.15 lakh individual rights covering an area of 6.14 lakh Acres and 6336 community rights over an area of 3.28 lakh Acres.
Similarly, the “Odisha Tribal Empowerment and Livelihood Programme” (OTELP) which is in operation since 2004 has been up scaled as `OTELP Plus’, covering additional 2695 villages benefitting 1.42 lakh households, he informed.
A special scheme titled ‘Odisha PVTGs Empowerment and Livelihood Improvement Programme’ (OPELIP) is being implemented from 2016-17 with an overall outlay of Rs 795 Crore which is targeted to benefit around 62,000 households, he said. He invited suggestions from members of the Council.
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