The Odisha Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik extended the sponsorship of Indian men’s and Women‘s national hockey teams for another 10 years.
The Odisha Government has been the official sponsor of the national mens and womens teams since 2018.
The Cabinet decided to continue with the sponsorship of the teams (both senior and junior) from 2023 to 2033. A sum of Rs 434.12 crore (excluding applicable taxes) will be released by the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) to the Hockey India during the period from February 1, 2023 to January 31, 2033.
The OMC had earlier entered into an agreement with the Hockey India, after due Government approval, for sponsorship of all Indian hockey teams for a period of five years from 2018 to 2023.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal of the SC and ST Welfare Department for incorporation of Odishas 22 Socially, Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) in the State SEBC list.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena said these 22 SEBC communities, though were in the Central list, did not figure in the State list.