Bhubaneswar: As per the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman VK Pandian visited various Colleges of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
He attended the Nua-O Scholarship Distribution Programme at Ravenshaw University, JKBK College, and Shailabala Women’s College in Cuttack followed by Ekamra Degree College, Kamala Nehru Women’s College, Maharshi College of Natural Law and Rajdhani Degree College in Bhubaneswar.
He informed the students about the Nua-O Scholarship under which all eligible PG and UG students from state government-run universities, government-aided colleges, and non-government-aided and unaided colleges will benefit.
In today’s programme, a total of 8,116 eligible students from Cuttack along with 5,358 eligible students from Bhubaneswar received scholarships worth about Rs 8.13 crore and Rs 5.26 crore respectively. Pandian distributed Nua-O Scholarship Sanction Orders to the students.
He said that the government’s next major initiative will be to cover all the students through the launching of the futuristic Nabin Odisha Magic Card, a points-system-based smart card that will engage and empower the youth and enable them towards academic development, personality development, skill development, and employment.
Based on points earned through various activities and performance of students in terms of attendance, discipline, academics, participation in extracurricular activities, and other parameters the cards will be upgraded to silver, gold, and platinum levels.
These cards can provide access to a plethora of services and resources like WiFi, Data /phone recharges, travel concessions, e-Libraries, online courses, career counselling, journals, seminars, etc.
This card aims to reduce the financial burden on the parents and provide better career progression and employment opportunities to students.
The online registration portal for this card was launched on March 5. All the students of the UG and PG courses will be eligible. The distribution of the card will start from August 15 onwards.
He conveyed the message of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who wished the students all the best for their future and said that this initiative would help to achieve the dream of Nua Odisha.
He interacted with the students during the programme. The students were excited and thrilled to receive the sanction orders and also immediately after the launch of the programme, they received the SMS that the amount had been credited to their accounts.
