A separate directorate will be formed in the state for the welfare of backward classes*

Raipur/ The State Backward Classes Advisory Council met today in the committee room of the Assembly under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai. The meeting discussed in detail several important topics, including the establishment of a separate directorate for the welfare of backward classes, the construction of new hostels, and the development of other backward classes.

Chief Minister Shri Sai said, "Our government is committed to the development of the backward classes. We are taking care of them and working on new development initiatives. The state is home to a large number of Other Backward Classes and minorities, including approximately 95 castes and their sub-groups. Our government is sensitive to the challenges of educational and socio-economic development of the Other Backward Classes."

Our government is committed to the overall development of these important but lagging sections of society by respecting their socio-cultural heritage and giving special emphasis on their all-round development.

To fulfill this commitment, our government has established the Ministry of Backward Classes and Minority Development, a department to accelerate the development of these communities and implement innovative schemes for them. Furthermore, the problems of these communities can be properly addressed and resolved, enabling this community to join the mainstream of development.

For the development of backward classes, the Other Backward Classes Commission and the Backward Classes Welfare Commission have been established. For this purpose, the Iron Crafts Development Board, Dyers Development Board, and Oil Mill Development Board have also been formed.

To achieve these objectives, the department has established hostels, ashrams, and residential schools for the educational development of these communities in the new main budget. Additionally, post-matric scholarships are being paid directly into the scholarship student's account through an online portal. A provision of ₹150 crore has been made for this purpose. Innovations have been implemented to ensure timely payment of scholarships, ensuring scholarship approval and payment are made within the current year through continuous monitoring. A financial assistance scheme for training students for competitive examinations has been included in the main budget, providing training for engineering, medical, UPSC, CGPSC, SSC, railway, banking, etc. Additionally, provision has been made for educational tours to develop students' interest in the study of Chhattisgarh's geographical and natural features and cultural heritage.
He said that a new scheme, the Chief Minister's Education Assistance Scheme, has been introduced in the main budget, through which students who cannot secure admission to hostels will be provided financial assistance for their studies. Currently, 55 departmental hostels are approved for Other Backward Classes. In the new budget, post-matric hostels for Other Backward Classes have been approved in six districts (Raigarh, Manendragarh-Chirmiri, Bharatpur, Dhamtari, Raipur, and Jashpur).

During this, other members of the State Backward Class Advisory Council gave important suggestions.

In the said meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Saw, Backward Class and Minority Development Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, Revenue Minister Shri Tank Ram Verma, Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Laxmi Rajwade, School Education Minister Shri Gajendra Yadav, Finance Minister Shri OP Chaudhary, Chief Secretary Shri Vikasshiil, Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Shri Subodh Singh along with other public representatives and officials were present in large numbers.