Post NewsNetwork
Bhubaneswar, June 5: The state government plans to set up 55 hostels this year in its bid to create better infrastructure for Scheduled Caste (SC) students.
“The state government has sanctioned 55 hostels for SC students and steps are being taken to sanction more such hostels in SC populated areas,” said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who chaired both the Scheduled Caste Welfare Advisory Board meeting and state-level high-power vigilance and monitoring committee meeting separately at the secretariat here. The proposed hostels will be set up in 11 SC-dominated districts in the state.
The state government is also taking measures to check atrocities against members of the SC community, Patnaik said. “Steps are being taken for the establishment of one special courts each in Cuttack, Bolangir and Balasore district and funds have been provided for the construction of court buildings,” he said.
“We have designated 92 district and sessions courts and additional district and session courts as special courts for trial of atrocity cases,” Patnaik said.
“Steps are being taken by the government for creating awareness about the provisions of the Protection of Civil Rights Act of 1955 and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989 for providing relief and rehabilitation to the victims of atrocity,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the state government has approved 390 Legal Aid Cells (LACs) to provide free legal services to the SC/ST community, adding that 697 legal retainers have been appointed in 350 LACs so far.
Patnaik said his government has increased monetary relief to victims of atrocity by 50 per cent and during 2014-15 fiscal relief assistance of `4.15 crore has been given to 1,536 victims.
