By Matters India Reporter

Bhubaneswar, March 28, 2023: A collector in the eastern Indian state of Odisha has assured financial support to Christians attending professional courses.

Gajapati district collector Lingaraj Panda made this promise when a two-member Christian delegation met him in his office on March 27.

Pallab Lima, general secretary of the state Minority Commission, and Sacred Hearts Sister Sujata Jena, a lawyer, met the collector to discuss the suspicious death of a ninth-grader Adivasi girl in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, a federal government institution, in the district and seek justice for her family.

The collector said he could not intervene in the matter as the school is managed by a commission under the federal ministry of education.

Once the postmortem report is made available the aggrieved family could challenge the matter in a court. He said, “I am happy someone has come up to defend on behalf of the victim’s family. Let the law take its course. However, I ensure the safety and well-being of the victim’s parents as both the parents are employed under my administration,” he added.

When the collector learned that Sister Jena is engaged in preparing students from minority communities for civil services through Odisha Regional Bishops’ Council in the Excellent IAS Academy, he said the district has funds for the professional studies of Christian Students.

“I was thinking about how to carry out the program. It’s a coincidence that you have come here,” the collector told Sister Jena. He requested her to give him a list of bright students for various professional studies she has identified in the district.

The administration, he added, will provide full financial support for the professional studies of Christian students.

The collector also explained the pilot project is meant for the youth of Gajapati’s Cheligarh block as they have been displaced over a dam project in the area.
However, through this program, we could also reach out to other youth in the district.”

The collector, who is also the District Magistrate, said the administration will set up 15 libraries in villages to provide better study access to rural poor students.

The libraries, he added, could also be used for conducting Sunday Schools and Bible studies.

He added Gajapati is a Christian-populated district and tribals are mostly Christians in the district.

Panda commended Lima for being elected as state General Secretary Minority Cell and State Biju Janata Dal( BJD) Council Member.

The collector said he had studied in both Christian and Hindu-managed schools.

“Respect and dignity of every human person are important to me,” he added.

6 Comments

  1. The money for professional courses for Christians will in all probability come from the Minority Scholarship Scheme being run by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. There is done every year through Post Matric Scholarship Schemes and Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities students from six communities listed by the Central Government. They are Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsees. 30% of the scholarships are reserved for Meritorious girl students of each minority community in a state. The eligibility is 50% marks in previous year’s final examination. Normally, applications are invited by July end every year. The website is: http://www.minorityaffairs.gov.in

    Gajapati district collector Lingaraj Panda cannot create a separate fund for the higher education (professional courses like IAS). By promising to help meritorious Christian students he must have meant that he would facilitate full utilisation of the funds allocated yearly by the union Ministry of Minority Affairs. Sometimes, the state (in this case Orissa) also creates a separate fund to help students from the minority communities. Both Sr Sujata Jena and the Collector deserve kudos for the initiative. In case of any problems, Sr Jena and her associates must approach the District/ Nodal office and Mr John Barla, who is Minister of State for Minority Affairs to test out how much help he can give to Christian students. In Hindi the phrase for this is: Doodh kaa doodh, paani kaa paani!

  2. I think, every word of the collector needs reflection: Funds for professional studies? only for those displaced by the Dam project? and How much and for how long..? is it in the line of free gas program, Ujjwala” remember?
    The library could be used for Sunday school and bible classes…I understand Sunday school of the ‘Shakhas’>
    why these free bees and only when the dam project is discussed…?
    Need a Christian to advertise and make believe, some sacrifice by the poor tribals and dalits for the development of all in the good spirit of ‘Nationalism’,,?
    Development for whom,,,…? at whose cost..?

  3. The converted persons should openly speak out as “I am Christian or Muslims or Hindus ” it will better for Indian democracy.

  5. Dear Collector Sir
    Please note that you can not give money for education to Christian students only.
    All poor deserving Hindus must get assistance and you can not discriminate in such blatant way .

  6. Thank you sir God bless you 🙏

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