Bhubaneswar: Poor and meritorious students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in Odisha will not have to arrange admission fees upfront when joining government medical and engineering colleges, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed.Under the new arrangement, eligible students will be allowed to take admission without depositingadmission, tuition and other prescribed fees at the time of admission and for up to six months thereafter. The state government will issue detailed guidelines on the eligibility criteria and implementation process shortly.The decision is aimed at students who clear highly competitive entrance examinations but face difficulty arranging money immediately after securing a seat. The government said the gap between admission and the release of scholarship funds can create a financial hurdle for students from economically weaker families.

Why Odisha has taken the decision

According to the Chief Minister's Office, SC and ST students generally receive scholarships from both the Central and Odisha governments. However, scholarship processing and disbursement can take around three to four months after the required formalities are completed.The new system is intended to bridge that gap. Students can complete their admission first and pay the applicable fees after receiving their scholarship money, rather than arranging the entire amount immediately.This is particularly relevant for students entering professional courses such as medicine and engineering, where admission-related expenses can become an immediate financial burden for families with limited resources.

Fee payment will be deferred, not permanently waived

The announcement is important to understand correctly.The government has directed that eligible SC/ST students will not have to deposit the fees upfront and can defer payment for up to six months. Available information does not establish a blanket permanent waiver of all college fees. Students are expected to deposit the applicable admission and tuition fees after receiving their scholarship funds.The exact list of fees covered and the procedure students will need to follow will become clearer once the Odisha government issues its detailed guidelines.

Move follows reports of students struggling at admission

The decision comes after concerns over meritorious students being unable to immediately arrange admission money despite qualifying for professional coursesThe New Indian Express reported the case of 19-year-old Soumya Ranjan Sahu, from a financially disadvantaged family in Kendrapara district, who had struggled to arrange money for counselling and admission to the MBBS course at SCB Medical College in Cuttack. The report said Majhi took note of the issue before issuing the directive.The government now intends to ensure that a temporary shortage of funds does not prevent eligible students from taking up seats they have earned through competitive examinations.

What happens next?

The Odisha government will issue detailed guidelines specifying how the fee-deferment facility will work and which students will be covered.Until those guidelines are released, students and colleges will need to wait for clarity on the documentation, eligibility requirements and payment procedure.The immediate policy direction, however, is clear: eligible poor SC/ST students entering government medical and engineering colleges will get up to six months to arrange their applicable fees instead of having to pay them at admission.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Odisha on Saturday for a significant visit to President Draupadi Murmu’s in-laws’ village in Paharpur, Mayurbhanj district, where he is set to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth over ₹47,600 crore. The visit coincides with President Murmu’s 67th birthday, adding a personal touch to the high-profile engagements in Rairangpur and surrounding areas.

The Prime Minister’s trip underscores the Centre’s focus on accelerating infrastructure and welfare initiatives in the state, with several key energy, road, irrigation and health projects in the spotlight.

Special Visit to Paharpur and Rairangpur

Modi landed in the morning and proceeded to Paharpur, the ancestral village of President Murmu’s in-laws. He is scheduled to offer prayers at local religious sites following Santhali and Ho Jahera traditions. President Murmu, who reached Rairangpur by road on Friday after bad weather disrupted her helicopter journey from West Bengal, is accompanying the Prime Minister for the day’s events.

At 1 pm, both leaders will jointly attend a ceremony in Rairangpur to mark two years of the Odisha government’s initiatives. Modi is also expected to address a public gathering, likely highlighting the transformative impact of the projects being rolled out.

Power and Energy Push

Among the major highlights is the inauguration of the 600 MW Upper Indravati Pumped Storage Project and the Stage-II expansion of the IB Thermal Power Station, adding two units of 660 MW each. The foundation stone for the Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited project at Lakhanpur in Jharsuguda will also be laid, promising industrial growth and employment opportunities in the region.

These energy sector initiatives are expected to strengthen Odisha’s power infrastructure and support long-term economic development.

Infrastructure and Connectivity Boost

Several road and rail projects form a key part of the package. These include the Kathajodi River Bridge linking Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, widening of the Dhalpur-Harbhanga road in Boudh, and four-laning of the Nuapada-Ghatipara section of NH-353. Two multi-tracking railway projects costing over ₹732 crore, including the Hindol Road-Meramandali stretch, will be dedicated to the nation.

Additionally, the Nayagarh Town Bypass on NH-57 and other connectivity projects aim to improve mobility and trade across districts.

Water, Health and Education Initiatives

Focus on rural and tribal welfare is evident with projects like the Kusumdihi Mega Lift Irrigation Project, the underground pipeline of the Kusumi Smart Irrigation Project, and the Integrated Rural Pipe Water Supply for mining-affected villages. A 300-bed hospital in Boudh, 24 Atal Bus Stands, and nine Automated Testing Stations will also be inaugurated.

In Rairangpur, the foundation stone for IGNOU’s regional centre and an indoor badminton complex will be laid, alongside a Sports Complex and Tribal Research Centre. A 300-tonne municipal solid waste-based compressed biogas plant in Bhubaneswar adds to the green development push.

President Murmu’s Emotional Connect

The visit holds special significance for President Murmu, who was born in Uparbeda village and moved to Paharpur after her marriage in 1980. She began her political journey as an MLA from Rairangpur and served as a minister in the BJP-BJD government. The first tribal woman to become Governor of Jharkhand before assuming the highest constitutional office in 2022, Murmu’s roots in the region remain strong. Earlier on Friday, she inaugurated a medical camp by AIIMS Bhubaneswar and other local projects.

Development Momentum in Odisha

The ₹47,600 crore worth of projects span multiple sectors including energy, industry, roads, drinking water, health, education, tourism and irrigation. Officials said these initiatives will create jobs, improve living standards in tribal and rural areas, and boost overall state growth.

As Modi addresses the public, expectations are high for announcements that could further strengthen Centre-State collaboration. The day’s events blend governance with cultural respect, reflecting the government’s outreach to tribal communities and eastern states.

With President Murmu celebrating her birthday amid these milestones, the visit is being seen as a moment of both progress and personal warmth for the leadership.