Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched Odisha Girls Incentive Programme (OGIP) at Baripada during his visit to Mayurbhanj district on Monday. The new programme is aimed at benefiting Rs 2.5 lakh SC/ST girl students of Class IX and X.
Addressing a public gathering, Naveen said it was a new initiative of the State Government to encourage the SC and ST girl students to complete secondary education as well as provide an enabling environment for their higher education.
“The day-scholar SC and ST girl students studying in Class IX and X will be provided with a yearly scholarship of Rs 3,200 under this programme. The initiative will definitely provide a major boost to the secondary education among the tribal girls and enhance their academic performance,” Patnaik said.
Stating that good governance and service to people are the objectives of his Government, the Chief Minister said several schemes of the Government have been providing succour to people of all ages including farmers, students and entrepreneurs. He said family pension scheme will benefit about 50 lakh farmers in the State.
The Chief Minister sought the cooperation of people for effective implementation of the schemes. Besides highlighting the achievements in the field of education, agriculture, old-age pension, road, electrification, drinking water supply facilities as well as training for youths, Patnaik also claimed that 108 emergency ambulance service provided to some parts of the State was doing an outstanding job.
At Balasore, Naveen flagged off the 108 emergency ambulance service for the district and the neighbouring Mayurbhanj.
Speaking on the occasion, he said the Government was focusing on improving health services in the State. “We have recently appointed over 400 doctors in various hospitals in the State and enhanced the seats of SCB Medical College upto 250 seats. We also plan to increase the seats in MKCG and VSS Medical Colleges and Hospitals,” Naveen said.
The BJD president said while about 15,000 meritorious students would benefit from the laptops to be provided to them on August 15, umbrella scheme will come to the help of 33 lakh poor people.
The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a 100-bed maternal child health care unit to be built at a cost of Rs 15 crore inside Balasore district headquarters hospital, inaugurated a 24-bed Special Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU) building built at a cost of `31 lakh in Baripada hospital and laid stones for Skill Upgradation Training Centre for tribal youths in Murgabadi. He also inaugurated a 200-bed ST girls hostel building and unveiled the statue of Maharaja Purna Chandra Bhanj Deo in front of MPC College.