The Schedule Caste-Schedule Tribe Development Department on Wednesday came under the purview of the Mo Sarkar initiative. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made the announcement at a function at the Lok Seva Bhawan here.
Naveen said, “The SC and SC Development Department is one of the most important departments of the Government that looks into the welfare of almost seventy percent of the State’s population comprising ST, SC, OBC and minority communities.”
The mainstreaming of these large communities is essential for the holistic development of the State. Therefore, the inclusion of this department in the Mo Sarkar Initiative will now bring in the desired results, the Chief Minister added.
“This initiative will be an instrument of empowerment of more than three crore traditionally underprivileged people, and will bring in a rapid turn-around in our approach in delivering public services. It will ensure governance with absolute accountability to the citizens,” he said.
This department has undertaken the onerous task of providing residential education to more than six lakh ST-SC students staying in about 6500 hostels. This is no mean achievement. And our tribal boys and girls are doing well in the academics too. We must acknowledge this, the Chief Minister added.
Mo Sarkar is now launched in 22 Integrated Tribal Development Agencies and 17 Micro Project for PVTGs, will certainly fast pace the socio-economic development process in the project areas, and the objectives of various schemes will be achieved faster.
“To strengthen the governance structure in the scheduled areas, necessary administrative procedures have come into effect. I believe; all the officials of the department will work in the true spirit of the Mo Sarkar initiative and provide their best in delivering service to the people” Patnaik said.