Crores of Rupees from the State exchequer spent on advertisements for self-promotion
No funds released to ST & SC hostels for the last five months
The delivery mechanism of the State Government completely collapsed
Bhubaneswar, 17/09/2025: The Biju Janata Dal today alleged that while the State Government is spending public revenue collected through taxes from poor citizens on its own publicity but the funds earmarked for the development of students, particularly those belonging to ST & SC communities, are not reaching the intended beneficiaries. Addressing a press conference at Sankha Bhavan, Senior General Secretary and Ex-MP Shri Pradeep Majhi and Party Media Coordinator Dr. Priyabrata Majhi strongly criticized the State Government.
Shri Pradeep Majhi said that under the Anwesha scheme launched by the previous BJD government, students from ST & SC communities were given opportunities to study in English medium schools and staying in Anwesha Hostel. But due to lack of financial support from the present government, the scheme is now on the verge of closure. Furthermore, the funds meant for food and other essential expenses of students in ashram schools and hostels for ST & SC children have not been released for the past five months. As a result, there is now a real fear of malnutrition among these hostel students. The present government has not been able to establish even a single new school in the State. Its delivery mechanism has collapsed entirely. Similarly, neither pre-matric nor post-matric scholarships are being disbursed to students.
It is ironic that while Odisha has a Tribal Chief Minister, who was also a teacher, ST & SC students of the State are being forced into such unimaginable conditions, pushing the future of Odisha into darkness. The BJD strongly condemns this situation and demands immediate corrective action.
Dr. Priyabrata Majhi said that during the tenure of former Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik, 1,762 residential schools were established for ST & SC students, the highest number in the entire country. Additionally, 1,612 residential schools covering classes from primary to higher secondary level were set up, where nearly 5.46 lakh students were enrolled. Today, all these institutions are on the brink of collapse due to the apathy and lack of encouragement from the present government.
While the BJP came to power promising “double engine, double development,” in reality, the Central allocations have drastically reduced. Under central sector schemes, Odisha received an allocation of Rs. 200 crores in 2024-25, where as in the current year it has come down to just Rs. 150 crores. Although budgetary provisions exist for ST & SC students, the funds are neither reaching the right place nor at the right time, exposing the government’s utter incapacity.
The State Government claims to have adequate fertilizer but the farmers are not receiving them on time. In the same manner, funds meant for ST & SC students are also not reaching them at the proper time. While the government beats its drum of development, in the past 15 months of BJP rule not a single new school or hostel has been opened for ST & SC students.
Disturbingly, reports are emerging that several girls residing in these hostels have become pregnant, raising serious concerns about their safety and protection. Clearly, the State Government has failed in delivering justice to the ST & SC communities.
