Paperman Media ( Bhubaneswar )- Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale, visited Odisha today on a one-day tour and reviewed the implementation of various welfare schemes being carried out by the State Government. During his visit, he held a review meeting with senior officials from different departments, including the Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), the ST & SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department, the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, and the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
During the meeting, the Minister reviewed schemes being implemented for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and sought details regarding scholarships, higher education opportunities, and reservation in education and employment. He appreciated the State Government’s recent decision to enhance reservation for Scheduled Tribes to 22.5%, Scheduled Castes to 16.25%, and 11.25% reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) from the current academic year.
Shri Athawale also expressed satisfaction over the financial assistance being provided to victims of atrocities and social discrimination. He noted that Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are becoming aware of their rights. Officials informed him that under the Central Government’s scheme for inter-caste marriages, eligible couples are being provided an incentive of 2.5 lakh. During the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26, a total of 4,958 couples benefited from the scheme.
The Minister further reviewed welfare measures for persons with disabilities. He was informed that nearly 90,283 persons with disabilities in Odisha are receiving pensions under Central Government-supported schemes. Detailed discussions were also held on special schools for children with disabilities, reservation provisions, and rehabilitation measures. Shri Athawale emphasized the importance of early identification, regular health screening, and timely intervention for children with disabilities to ensure their holistic development.
Among those present at the meeting were Shri B. Parameswaran, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, ST & SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department; Shri Laxman Kumar Mallik, Director, SC; Smt. Jugaleswari Das, Director, OBC; Shri Deepak Routrai, Additional Secretary, SSEPD Department; Smt. Sasmita Sahoo, Additional Commissioner, BMC; Smt. Gitanjali Naik, Smt. Madhusmita Samal Additional Secretaries, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department; and other senior officials.
