Expedite welfare schemes for weaker sections: Odisha CM

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday directed officials to expedite the implementation of welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the state, while putting special focus on particularly vulnerable tribal groups.

Presiding over a review meeting held here, the chief minister asked the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development Department's officials to ensure that the schemes and programmes for the weaker sections were implemented promptly with dedication.

He expressed displeasure over the tardy progress in the construction of hostels meant for ST/SC students, pointing out that 2,020 of the total 2,850 hostels sanctioned by the state government have been completed so far.

Patnaik said Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, Sundergarh, Nuapada and Nabarangpur districts had not adhered to the deadlines for the completion of the remaining hostels and ordered that the construction of these hostels be completed by March 31.

The chief minister asked the department's secretary to submit a status report in the first week of April to his office along with the names of officers who fail to meet the set target.