Image Courtesy : www.facebook.com/DharmendraPradhanOdisha

On Sunday, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme in Odisha, marking a significant step towards advancing educational infrastructure across India. Initially, the scheme will be implemented in 63 institutions managed by the Centre within the state, out of a total of 97 Central Schools and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.

While the Centre has urged all states and Union Territories to solidify their commitment to the scheme through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), the Odisha government is yet to finalize its participation.

Highlighting the potential fiscal injection into Odisha via the PM SHRI scheme, Pradhan estimated an infusion exceeding Rs 120 crore. Specifically earmarked for the fiscal year 2023-24, an allocation of Rs 50.8 crore is designated for schools under the Centre's administration in Odisha, with an initial disbursement of Rs 12.7 crore.

Expressing concerns over the delayed integration in state-managed schools, Pradhan stressed the shared accountability between the central and state governments in advancing educational endeavors.

"Over the past year, I've written thrice to the Chief Minister (Naveen Patnaik), emphasizing the implementation of the PM SHRI scheme in Odisha schools. I sincerely appeal to the CM to prioritize this," urged Pradhan.

Additionally, Pradhan underscored Odisha's substantial annual funding under schemes like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and PM Poshan, urging the state government's proactive involvement in advancing educational initiatives and nurturing student welfare. Launched on September 7, 2022, the PM SHRI scheme aims to bridge educational gaps, with Pradhan advocating for its prioritization across all states for the collective enrichment of educational institutions and students alike.

News Source: India Today