Bhubaneswar(Kalinga Voice) – A launching ceremony of the various new initiatives of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Caste Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department for ensuring Quality Education to ST/SC students studying in SSD residential schools was held on
17.12.2020 in the Second Floor Conference Hall. Sri Suresh Ch. Mohapatra, Development Commissioner – cum – ACS graced the occasion and all PA ITDAs and DWOs participated in the launching ceremony which was conducted in a virtual mode.
Chief Guest, Sri Suresh Ch. Mohapatra, Development Commissioner – cum – ACS released special issue ADIVASI a research journal of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research & Training Institute (SCSTRTI) with an article titled “Impact of Pandemics on Tribal Culture of Odisha.: with special reference to COVID-19”.
This was followed by the release of Department’s quarterly News Letter “The Voice” developed for showcasing the best governance practices and also to provide an opportunity to those inhabiting at the bottom to be heard. In addition to the above a MoU with People for Action (PFA)was signed to collaborate with the Department in bridging the learning gaps in Odia, English, Maths and Science through accelerated Learning enhancement programme and Teachers Professional Development
through capacity building programmes. Further, to provide innovative 360 degree Digital Learning Solution for all std 10 students studying in SSD Schools in Odisha through digital solutions such as Video Lessons, Online Practice Assessments and Unit Tests etc a MOU with Aveti Learning Pvt. Ltd was signed. Finally a MOU with PFEL to support and identify key interventions for strengthening District and Block units of SSD Department, improve quality education and living standards in SSD schools and hostels and for designing and running a Government own Fellowship Programme was also signed.
Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Principal Secretary, ST & SC Development Department and Ms. Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, Director, ST, Prof. (Dr.) Akhila Bihari Ota, Director, SCSTRTI were present in the event