Bhubaneswar: To make the stay of ST&SC boarder students in ST&SC Development Department-run residential schools and hostels across Odisha, more comfortable during the winter months, the Department has adopted a novel way of distribution of sweaters and one pair of casual dress to over 5 lakh students in the State.
The initiative, 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 help 3,28,171 boarders staying in the hostels attached to SSD Department Schools and 1,76,748 boarder students staying in the hostels attached to S&ME Department schools in the State.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary SC/ST Development, Minorities, and Backward Classes Welfare Department Roopa Roshan Sahoo said in addition to other amenities and entitlements provided to the boarders during previous years, distribution of sweater and casual dress to the ST&SC boarders students have been added during the current 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.”
