Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday participated in the centenary celebrations of Barendra Krushna Vidyapitha at Banki and announced a grant of ₹1 crore from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the construction of an auditorium in the school. He also assured that all necessary funds for the school’s ancillary infrastructure would be provided by the government.
Addressing the gathering, Majhi said the 100-year journey of Barendra Krushna Vidyapitha was not just a milestone but a symbol of educational transformation and community empowerment in Banki. “This is not merely a school but a movement that has guided the people of Banki toward knowledge, self-respect, and self-awareness,” he said.
Reflecting on the school’s legacy, the Chief Minister said its journey had withstood social, economic, and educational changes but remained steadfast in its core values. “The institution has illuminated the path of education for generations and has emerged as a model across Odisha,” he noted.
Majhi emphasized the importance of education as a cornerstone of Indian culture, reiterating that it was the only medium that transforms ignorance into awareness. Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, he said, “Although the policy was not implemented earlier due to political reasons, our government has taken immediate steps to introduce it in Odisha to ensure our students receive the same quality of education as their peers across the country.”
Highlighting his government’s focus on education, Majhi announced that 762 schools in Odisha will be developed as model institutions under the ‘PM SHRI’ scheme. He further informed that under the Godavarish Mishra Adarsh Prathamik Vidyalaya Yojana, 2,200 model primary schools will be built in the first phase at an investment of ₹12,000 crore.
The Chief Minister also announced plans to fill 44,433 teacher posts over the next three years, adding that 15,000 positions would be filled each year. Additionally, he said the Heritage School Scheme has been introduced to preserve and renovate the oldest schools in every district and those over 100 years old.
“In the current budget, the state government has allocated over ₹31,000 crore for primary education, which accounts for 14.2% of the total state budget and 3.9% of the GSDP — among the highest in the country,” Majhi said, underlining the government’s commitment to strengthening the education sector.
Addressing students, the Chief Minister encouraged them to explore diverse career paths beyond traditional professions. “There are limitless opportunities today — in sports, music, dance, art, and entrepreneurship. Parents should not restrict children to becoming only doctors or engineers,” he said.
During the event, Majhi also directed the Cuttack District Collector to prepare a report on upgrading the Banki NAC area to a municipality.
Among those present were Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, Banki MLA Devi Ranjan Tripathy, Cuttack Collector Dattatreya Bhausaheb Shinde, former MLA Debashish Pattnayak, and members of the Centenary Committee, including President Bhabani Prasad Pandit, Secretary Govind Chandra Tripathy, Coordinator Neela Mohan Tripathy, and Shubhranshu Mohan Padhi.
