Government Increases Scholarship Amount for ST and SC Students

Here’s some good news for students from SC and ST categories. The state of Odisha has increased the pre-matric scholarship for ST and SC boarders from 750 to 950 rupees for boys and 800 to 1000 rupees for females.

One of the state government's major projects is the offering of pre-matric scholarships to ST and SC boarders of schools through the ST and SC Development Department and the School & Mass Education Department.

The pre-matric scholarship, which is largely intended for mess management in hostels, intends to support ST and SC boarders' educational and overall development. In addition, millet (mandia)-based food items will be added to hostel menus to satisfy boarders' nutritional needs.

More than five lakh ST and SC students would benefit from the program. A total of Rs. 490 crores would be spent on pre-matric scholarships each year. In 2015, the monthly rate of PMS for ST and SC border students was increased for the first time.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik advised his newly inducted Cabinet Ministers to 'Tour' more and reach out to as many people as possible to "strengthen the grassroots more." After the entire cabinet ministers resigned from their separate roles on Saturday, Patnaik summoned a meeting shortly after the swearing-in ceremony of the new Ministers.

The Mantra of 5 T’s

The Chief Minister added one more 'T' to the mantra of 5 Ts, which includes Team Work, Technology, Transparency, Transformation, and Time Limit, with 'Tour' being the most recent addition. Patnaik directed his ministers to strive for the people's benefit, to visit every district, block, and gram panchayat, to spend more time with them, and to make every effort to keep their pledges.

On Sunday, a total of 21 ministers (13 Cabinet and 8 Minister of State - Independent charge) were sworn into the Naveen Patnaik Cabinet, with five of them being women.