Bhubaneswar: The BJD would hold a demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan here on November 24 (Saturday) in protest against the Union Government reducing Centre and State ratio for the post-Matric stipend of SC students from 90:10 to 20:80 recently.
As per the earlier ratio, the Union Government and the State Government were providing 90 per cent and 10 per cent were bearing the stipend assistance and thus providing Rs 215.80 crore and 22.48 crore, respectively. About 2 lakh SC students, who are studying in higher classes post-Matric are now getting the stipend.
“By reducing Centre and State ratio, the Union Government has shown its step-motherly attitude towards Odisha and the particular move is a betrayal to the SC students,” said Finance Minister Shashi Bhushan Behera, BJD vice-president Pramila Mallick, general secretary Padmnabh Behera, Lalbihari Himirika and Purna Chandra Sethi at a Press conference here.
Stating that the stipend will put a financial burden of Rs 238.28 crore on the State exchequer in 2017-18, the leaders demanded that the Union Government should withdraw the decision and provide stipend money at the earlier ratio, 90:10, soon.
The BJD would hold a relay agitation in front of the Raj Bhavan from 8 am till 12 noon on November 24 in protest against the cut in Central ratio, they informed.
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