By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said that the ‘National Education Policy – 2020’ is committed to working towards social justice and building an inclusive and inclusive society by providing quality education to tribal students.
Shri Pradhan said this while attending the inaugural ceremony of the National Conference of Chairpersons of Parliamentary and State/UT Legislative Committees for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) held at the Lok Seva Bhavan Convention Centre in Bhubaneswar on Friday. Shri Pradhan expressed his views on the theme of Role of Parliamentary and Legislative Committees in SCs and STs, Development and Empowerment and first of all paid tribute to the founder of the Constitution, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Welcoming all the members of the social justice movement in the land of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath, he thanked the Lok Sabha Speaker for this initiative inspired by the spirit of equality, respect and justice. He said that this effort is not only a means of empowering the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes but also a historic step in taking the democratic system to the last rung of the society.
Shri Adara Pradhan said that brave warriors like Veer Surendra Sai, Laxman Nayak and Nirmal Munda of Odisha soil have made an unparalleled contribution to India’s freedom struggle and the protection of the rights of the deprived. In 1999, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs was formed for the first time in the government of our mentor Atal Ji. After the formation of this ministry, Odisha’s Jewel Oram took charge of it. This step reflects our commitment to social justice. Giving priority to the deprived along with the welfare of SC/ST is the priority of the Modi government. Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, a government dedicated to the welfare of the poor and the deprived is working in the country. Our main goal is to fulfill the dreams of the deprived and realize the vision of ‘Developed India’ by 2047.
We have prepared primers or alphabet books in 117 languages, out of which 17 primers are languages spoken by the tribal communities of Odisha. After the Modi government came to power, the enrollment of SC and ST students has increased from 46 percent to more than 66 percent. The enrollment of Scheduled Caste women in the education sector has increased by 51 percent. Till 2019, if the post of Assistant Professor was not filled, it was filled in a process and in the general category, but under the Modi government, SC and ST are getting their rights. Shri Pradhan opined that the state and the country can develop only if the disadvantaged people of the society come forward.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Shri Harivansh, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla, Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram, Odisha Assembly Speaker Smt. Surma Padhi, Deputy Speaker Shri Bhavani Shankar Bhoi, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of the Lok Sabha Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste were prominently present at the event.
