With a view to encouraging students to study Odia language, the State Government on Thursday announced a scholarship in the name of legendary Odia writer Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Senapati for students securing 80 per cent and above marks in Odia in the annual Plus Two and Plus Three examinations.
Besides, it also announced another scholarship in the name of eminent Odia scientist Dr Pranakrushna Parija for the students of Arts, Science and Commerce securing more than 80 per cent marks in the annual Plus Two and Plus Three examinations.
These decisions were taken at a meeting held at the State Secretariat where Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed annual performance of the Higher Education and Science and Technology Departments.
Patnaik proposed formation of a Scholarship Council for timely disbursal of scholarships instituted by the Higher Education, School and Mass Education, SC and ST Development and Employment and Technical Education and Training (ET&T) Departments and directed the Chief Secretary to review the proposal.
He also asked the Higher Education Department to construct an additional 20,000 hostels and provide soft loans to the meritorious students to pursue higher studies in technical education.
Besides, the Chief Minister asked the Science and Technology Department to make provisions to provide special incentives for the university students whose PhD thesis papers are ranked among the top 400 technical universities by the Time Magazine.
He directed the Higher Education department to identify 50 educationally backward blocks and make arrangements for special scholarships for girl students.
These apart, he stressed on installation of hi-max solar lights and supply of drinking water through solar power in the tribal hostels. It was revealed that a total of 519 solar lights have been installed in 200 tribal and inaccessible villages and 1,621 villages supplied solar power.