By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on Tuesday reviewed the progress of various schemes and achievements of ST , SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department.
ST , SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department Minister Jagannatha Saraka , 5T Secretary VK Pandian, Department Secretary, Roopa Roshan Sahoo, Director Indramani Tripathy were among those present.
State Government has decided to set up Tribal Museums in eight districts, where Special Development Councils have been formed. The districts are Mayurbhanj, Malkangiri, Keonjhar, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Kandhamal, and Sundergarh.
SDC started in 2017 covering over 60 lakh people in 117 blocks in 9 districts with more than 45% ST population. The number of districts was increased to 23 and blocks to 172 covering more than 84 lakh ST people in 2023, Minister Saraka said at a press meet .
An amount of Rs 223.5 cores has been budgeted for 23 SDCs for the year 2023-24 for 62 tribal groups including 13 PVTGs. Under the scheme, 4731 sacred groves in 9 districts completed while 1609 Tribal Cultural Club set up, 828 weekly Hats identified for improvement, 1870 musical troupes benefited, 10605 tribal delegates availed exposure visits, I-Cards issued to 36309 tribal artisans and 2249 clubs provided with sports kits
More than 6 lakh students from 4.2 lakh households are studying in 1735 schools functioning under the department. In last 20 years, number of High Schools under ST&SC Dev Department has increased to 422 from 215. Similarly, 62 Higher Secondary Schools have been opened for providing Higher Secondary Education.
As many as 8 Akankhya hostels have been established in the State for providing free lodging to ST&SC students pursuing post matric education.
