Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has announced his intention to write to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging the implementation of a 27% reservation for OBC students in higher education, a benefit already provided in several other states. Athawale emphasized the need for a caste-based census to accurately assess community demographics, a matter he has raised in Parliament. He is also alarmed by the increasing atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Odisha, citing statistics of reported cases rising from 3,003 in 2021 to 3,704 in 2022, and 3,358 so far in 2023. During his two-day visit to Odisha, he plans to discuss these concerns with the state’s Governor and Chief Minister. Additionally, Athawale reviewed various welfare schemes aimed at SC/ST empowerment, scholarships for OBC students, and other support programs during his visit.