Village women carry firewood on their heads on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. (AP)

Balasore, July 1: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik launched an incentive scheme for girl students belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes communities during his visit to Baripada and Balasore today.

As a part of the scheme, named Odisha Girls’ Incentive Programme, day scholars in classes IX and X will receive Rs 3,200 every year, whereas hostel borders will get an annual incentive of Rs 7,500.

“The state government is committed to the cause of education. Around 2.5 lakh students will be covered under this scheme,” Naveen said.

The chief minister participated in more than a dozen programmes, including the launch of an emergency ambulance service in both places.

Naveen said the government was taking measures to strengthen health infrastructure at every level, right from primary health centre to district headquarters hospitals.

Naveen inaugurated a six-bed cabin, built at a cost of Rs 24 lakh, at the district headquarters hospital here. He also laid the foundation stone for a Rs 15-crore maternity and child care unit today.

The district Congress unit, led by Padmalochan Panda, lodged a complaint with Sahadevkhunta police against Naveen allegedly for making false claims. “The ambulance service and the maternity and child care unit both come under the National Rural Health Mission scheme of central government. The chief minister is making false claims,” said Girish Dash, a local Congress leader.