Odisha government to provide financial help for underprivileged SC/ST students

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to 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. This was informed by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while addressing the meeting of Tribes Advisory Council here on Tuesday.

“My government has been taking sustained interventions to improve the socio-economic conditions and



realize the educational needs of our tribal communities. Education, livelihood and protection of their rights have been our focus area,” he said.

Patnaik said his government has set up Special Development Councils (SDCs) for promotion, protection and preservation of the tribal culture and traditions, heritage, and identity by involving tribal people. This year, the program has been expanded to 172 blocks of 23 districts, covering more than 84 lakh tribal people, he pointed out.