By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Government has allocated 2,778.25 Crore for School and Mass Education department for the year 2023-24. In terms of recruitment, Rs1045.00 crore has been allocated for the posting of 51,535 teachers under the S&ME department. and 1070 teachers for OAVs in the 2023-2024 financial year, Samir Ranjan Dash, Minister, School and Mass Education said .
“106 higher secondary schools will be opened this academic year,” he said. Similarly, a budget of Rs 1918.13 lakh has been allotted under the ‘Mukhya Mantri Medhabi Chatra Protsahana Yojana’ for providing scholarships to deserving students. Aimed at robust infrastructure development and ensuring holistic educational environment, a budget of Rs 1000.14 Cr. will be spent towards the construction of 237 new boys’ hostels.
A total expenditure of Rs 22,52,780.23 lakh has been allocated in the budget of 2023-24 for the overall improvement of educational institutions, of which Rs 12,86,284.23 lakh and Rs 9,66,496.00 lakh will be availed under the administrative and programme expenditure respectively.
Rs 80,514.50 lakh has been allocated to the state government’s avant-garde initiative of Mo School Abhiyan. Rs 138.97 cr. has been allocated to the recently announced ‘Mukhya Mantri Shikhya Purashkar’.
Under the ‘Gangadhar Meher Shikshya Manakbrudhi Yojana’, Rs 15,500.00 lakh has been allotted to provide bicycles free of cost to students studying in Class-IX of government schools, government fully aided schools, Sanskrit and Madrasas schools.
Targeted at maintaining the high-quality assets generated under the HST initiative, Rs 130 cr. has been allocated towards the provision of engaging services of Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs) for watch and ward and housekeeping.