At a special function organised at the Secretariat, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday dedicated 200 new hostels for the students of the State.
The hostels have been built by the ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said development and welfare of tribals and dalits are the topmost priority of his Government.
“Students from Scheduled Classes and Scheduled Tribes are being educated in more than 1,600 institutes of the State. More than 5,000 hostels have been built and over 26,000 students are being educated in various public schools under schemes such as Anwesha and Akanksha. 10 Kalinga model residential schools will be made functional by 2018,” said Patnaik.
“Odisha is a leading State in residential education and my Government is committed to empower the students of Scheduled Classes and Scheduled Tribes through education,” he added.
Patnaik also initiated distribution of forestland records to 20,000 tribal beneficiaries of the State under the Forest Rights Act in the event. He further assured the beneficiaries that they would be made part of all social welfare schemes of the Government.