The Odisha government has decided to convert all traditional kitchens in its residential schools and hostels to 'eco-friendly' ones and stop the use of conventional methods of cooking. Commissioner-cum-Secretary ST and SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department, Roopa Roshan Sahoo, in a letter to all Collectors on Wednesday, directed all schools, hostels and establishments under the department to adopt the "eco-friendly" campaign and convert all the kitchens to LPG-based cooking environment. There are 1,736 schools functioning under the administrative control of the ST&SC Development, M&BCW Department while there are around 6,000 hostels across the state including the hostels under Anwesha and Akankhya programme in which more than 5 lakh ST&SC students stay. Sahoo said the state government has consistently taken steps for the smooth functioning of the residential facilities by providing better and improved amenities including strengthening of infrastructure.Similarly, the entitlements of the boarder students have been expanded by providing winter clothes, casual dresses, improvement in diet and others, she said.

Source-Pragativadi