Finance
To make the winter stay of ST&SC boarder students in ST&SC Development Department-run residential schools and hostels across Odisha more comfortable, the Department has adopted a novel method of distributing sweaters and one pair of casual dress to over 5 lakh students in the State.
The initiative, which is being carried out for the first time under the Entitlements and Amenities Guidelines of the SC/ST Development, Minorities, and Backward Classes Welfare Department, will benefit 3,28,171 boarders in SSD Department schools and 1,76,748 boarders in S&ME Department schools across the state.
Roopa Roshan Sahoo, Commissioner-cum-Secretary SC/ST Development, Minorities, and Backward Classes Welfare Department, stated that, in addition to other amenities and entitlements provided to boarders in previous years, distribution of sweater and casual dress to ST&SC boarders students has been added this year.
Manoharika Pradhan, a student of Class X with Government Girls High School, Raikia in Phulbani district said, “This initiative is a welcome gesture by the State Government to many students like me as the winter days in our region are quite challenging. This will help us all in a great way.”
Another student Papu Kanhar of Class-X with DM High School, Boida in Kandhamal district said “I am extremely happy with this timely gift from the State Government through the SC/ST Development, Minorities, and Backward Classes Welfare Department. This is going to help thousands of students to make their stay comfortable in the hostels during winter.”
