Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the upcoming national conference of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Committees, a preparatory meeting was held in Bhubaneswar today under the chairmanship of Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy. The two-day conference is scheduled for August 29 and 30 and will bring together committee chairpersons from Parliament, states, and union territories.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker Bhabanishankar Bhoi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Chief Whip Saroj Pradhan, and other dignitaries, who shared key inputs to ensure the smooth conduct of the prestigious event.
According to the discussion, the conference will witness the participation of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Dr. Harivansh, Members of Parliament, and representatives of SC/ST welfare committees from across the country. Over 250 delegates are expected to attend.
Expressing gratitude to the Lok Sabha Speaker for selecting Odisha as the host, Speaker Surama Padhy emphasized the state’s commitment to hospitality and seamless event execution, rooted in the ethos of “Atithi Devo Bhava.”
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will inaugurate the conference, while Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati is scheduled to attend the valedictory session. Delegates will also visit iconic cultural sites in Puri and Konark following the conference.
To oversee the preparations, a high-level team from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, led by Director Dr. Yamnam Arun Kumar, is currently in Odisha. The preparatory meeting was also attended by senior officials from multiple departments including the Commissionerate Police, Home, Finance, Tourism, PWD, Parliamentary Affairs, and Information & Public Relations. Odisha Assembly Secretary Satyabrata Rout and other senior officers were present to coordinate logistical and protocol arrangements.
