Bhubaneswar: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla emphasised the need for collective efforts to promote the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) during a two-day National Conference of Chairpersons of the Committees on SC/ST Welfare held in Bhubaneswar.
The conference, which was held after 25 years in Odisha and for the first time outside Delhi, aimed to discuss issues related to the socio-economic empowerment of SC/ST communities.
Addressing the media after the conference, Birla said that the roadmap for the development of SCs and STs would start from Bhubaneswar. He stressed the importance of the proper implementation of welfare schemes and programs to ensure the progress of these communities. Birla also emphasised the need for 100% expenditure of the budget allocated for SC/ST welfare and the adoption of technology and good governance to uplift the deprived sections.
The conference discussed various issues, including education, health, livelihood, and socio-economic empowerment of SC/ST communities. The Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of SCs and STs Chairman, Dr. Phagan Singh Kulaste, urged everyone to work together to extend the benefits of government welfare schemes to these communities.
The conference adopted several proposals that will serve as a guide for the Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies to accelerate welfare measures for SCs and STs. Birla expressed hope that the outcome of the conference would provide a platform for the exchange of experiences, best practices, and ideas for the successful implementation of welfare programs.
