Bhubaneswar, June 24: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale reviewed the implementation of various social welfare schemes in Odisha during a high-level meeting with senior state officials on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Athawale assessed the progress of welfare initiatives aimed at Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). He sought updates on scholarship programmes, higher education opportunities, and reservation policies in education and employment.
The Minister lauded the Odisha Government’s recent decision to increase reservation quotas to 22.5 per cent for Scheduled Tribes (STs), 16.25 per cent for Scheduled Castes (SCs), and 11.25 per cent for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs), effective from the current academic year.
Athawale also expressed satisfaction with the financial assistance being extended to victims of atrocities and social discrimination. He noted that awareness of legal rights among SC and ST communities has been steadily increasing.
Officials informed the Minister that under the Central Government’s inter-caste marriage incentive scheme, eligible couples receive financial assistance of ₹2.5 lakh. During the financial years 2024–25 and 2025–26, a total of 4,958 couples benefited from the programme.
The review also focused on welfare measures for persons with disabilities. Officials stated that approximately 90,283 persons with disabilities in Odisha are receiving pensions under Centrally supported schemes. Discussions were held on special education facilities, reservation provisions, and rehabilitation initiatives for differently-abled individuals.
Emphasising inclusive development, Athawale stressed the need for early identification of disabilities, regular health screenings, and timely interventions to ensure the overall growth and well-being of children with disabilities.
The review meeting brought together officials from several key departments, including the Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), the ST & SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department, the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, and the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Among those present at the meeting were B. Parameswaran, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the ST & SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department; Laxman Kumar Mallik, Director, SC Development; Jugaleswari Das, Director, OBC Development; Deepak Routray, Additional Secretary, SSEPD Department; Sasmita Sahoo, Additional Commissioner, BMC; Gitanjali Naik and Madhusmita Samal, Additional Secretaries of the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, along with other senior officials.
