West Bengal Scheduled Caste Advisory Council set up

Kolkata: For the first time ever in the country, Bengal government has decided to set up the West Bengal Scheduled Caste Advisory Council.

The decision in this regard was taken in Friday's Cabinet meeting.

The work of the council will mainly be to look into the social, educational, cultural and economic matters.

The advisory council will be formulating specific action plans to implement projects. They will also be identifying the shortcomings and will help the state government in taking necessary steps to ensure further development.

The council will also look into the steps that need to be taken for further development in the educational sector for them.

At present, the Scheduled Caste population in the state is around 2.14 crore and setting up of the advisory council is considered to be one of the major decision of the state government.

Moreover, the advisory council will come forward with suggestions to ensure better livelihood for them and at the same time, steps need to be taken for the Scheduled Caste population through the concerned departments.

They would also help the entrepreneurs from Scheduled Caste background to get loans easily without facing any inconvenience.

They would also take steps for promotion and development of cultural activities of the people from Scheduled Caste background.

Meanwhile, the state government is taking necessary steps to fill up the vacant posts of Olchiki teachers in schools.

Partha Chatterjee, state Education minister said after the Cabinet meeting: "Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had directed that Olchiki script can be taught in college level as well and she had directed the state Education department to take steps in this regard."

"Today (Friday) we have discussed in the Cabinet meeting and decided to give emphasis on recruitment of Olchiki teachers.

"Arrangements to conduct examination to recruit teachers will be taken up so that Olchiki teachers can be recruited at the earliest," he said, adding that there are schools where Olchiki scripts are being taught. But there is scarcity in number of teachers to teach in all the schools.

There is also a proposal to increase the age limit of the existing Olchiki teachers to continue teaching till 60 years and it is at present under processing with the Finance department.

It may be mentioned that the state government has taken several steps so that students can study Olchiki script. A student, who stood first by writing Olchiki script in Higher Secondary examination, was also awarded by the state government.