By Sandeep Pattnaik
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Bhubaneswar, 1st Jan 2016: Odisha Government has set a target to to cover 23,000 students under the flagship ‘Anwesa’ programme, meant to provide education to SC, ST and the minority community at high school level in next five years. This was revealed during a review meeting here on Friday.
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The academic performance of the students of these communities at high school level has also increased significantly over last 7 years. In the year 2009 around 72.29% of the students were successful in high school certificate examination among whom 9.68% of the students were 1st Divisioners. Over the years this percentage followed an increasing trend. In the year 2015 the percentage of pass students in high school certificate examination reached 95.27% among whom 42.11% were 1st Divisioners. Around 46 students qualified for college and universities of national and international repute. The entire study expense of these students is being provided by the Government through the above programme.
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Besides, the State Govt is all set to focus on filling of the ST quota in Govt medical colleges through a special drive in the coming year. The department has also been advised to strengthen the existing infrastructure in hostels and ensure appropriate delivery of services in ST & SC hostels. Chief Secretary Aditya Padhi has also directed the department to make assessment of the outcomes of the interventions taken for safety security of the students in hostels and residential schools.
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The Chief Secretary also directed the officials to release detailed guidelines and SOPs, as well as to put in place a Comprehensive Monitoring System of Schools & Hostels for these communities.
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The issues relating to non-release of scholarship grant from Govt of India for last 3 years, implementation of various social, educational, economic development and legal empowerment programmes of the department along with the implementation of Forest Right Act also figured in the review.
