Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday reviewed the implementation of various welfare schemes of the Ministry in Odisha during a meeting with senior State government officials in Bhubaneswar.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Athawale highlighted the Central Government’s commitment to the welfare of SC, OBC, Divyangjan and other disadvantaged sections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy and stressed the importance of inclusive growth and social empowerment, he added.
The Minister reviewed the progress of scholarship schemes for SC and OBC students, implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, welfare measures for Divyangjan, transgender persons and inter-caste marriage promotion schemes. He urged the State Government to ensure regular review of atrocity cases and effective implementation of reservation provisions and welfare programmes.
Athawale informed that Odisha has a significant population of SC, ST and OBCs, and assured all possible support from the Central Government for pending proposals and welfare initiatives. He also appreciated the efforts being made to attract investment to Odisha and emphasised that increased industrial growth would generate employment opportunities for the youth.
The Minister also underlined the significance of Kalinga in India’s history and suggested organising national and international events to showcase Odisha’s rich heritage and its contribution to the spread of Buddhism and the message of peace.