Patnaik seeks early release of funds for PVTGs

Expressing concern over the non-release of funds for the education of tribal girls, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said the state has not received about Rs 25.42 crore for 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscals under the 'Strengthening Education among ST Girls in Low Literacy Districts' scheme.
Stressing on the urgent need for release of the sum, Patnaik wrote to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, "I would request your personal intervention in this matter as early release of funds towards management of educational complex for the PVTGs (particularly vulnerable tribal group)."
Stating that the state government has been attaching priority to education of students belonging to Tribal and Dalit communities, Patnaik said out of 75 PVTGs in the country, 13 live in Odisha.

These PVTGs areas have very low rate of female literacy for which 19 educational complex were set up to bridge the critical gap in education.
The MOTA has been providing funds under the scheme 'Strengthening Education among ST Girls in Low Literacy districts' since 2008-09 for managing these educational complex. These educational complexes are being managed by the Odisha Model Tribal Education Society (OMTES), a government sponsored society.
"It is a matter of concern that funds under the scheme have not been released to the state government for the year 2014-15 and 2015-16. The state government in the meantime have incurred expenditure out of its resources, which is putting extra financial burden on the already stretched revenue resources of the state," Patnaik mentioned in the letter.

Hence there is an urgent need for release of allocation from the MOTA under the scheme amounting to Rs 12.38 crore for the year 2014-15 and Rs 13.04 crore for the year 2015-16, Patnaik said.