Bhubaneswar: In a significant move, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an increase of ₹1 in the daily midday meal value under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana (PM Poshan) for school children in Odisha.
This decision will benefit around 43 lakh students across more than 50,000 government and government-aided schools in the state, aiming to enhance nutrition and boost school attendance. The daily cost of meals will now rise to ₹6.90 for primary students and ₹9.82 for upper primary students, reflecting an adjustment to current market prices.
The announcement came during the state-level Children’s Day celebration, Suravi, held at the Capital High School campus in Unit-3. The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of ensuring that children receive nutritious meals to support their education and development, emphasizing the government’s dedication to combating malnutrition and encouraging school enrollment.
Alongside this, the Chief Minister introduced other major initiatives for education in the state:
- Godabarish Mishra Adarsh Prathamika Vidyalaya: Aimed at providing quality primary education, this program will establish one ultra-modern primary school in each panchayat, totaling 6,794 schools statewide. These schools, inspired by the learning environment of Satyabadi Vana Vidyalaya, will focus on language and basic arithmetic skills, with facilities including modern classrooms, digital libraries, and play areas to support holistic development.
- Heritage Schools Scheme: To preserve the historical significance of Odisha’s oldest schools, this initiative will restore and develop 51 schools that are over 100 years old, with a goal of preserving their cultural heritage.
- Free Hostel Facilities for Odisha Adarsh Vidyalaya Students: Recognizing the financial burdens on families, the state government will now cover monthly boarding expenses for students in all hostels of Odisha Adarsh Vidyalayas. This will ensure free accommodation and food for students, costing the government approximately ₹187.15 crore annually after capital costs.
During his address, the Chief Minister encouraged students to nurture their talents, pursue big dreams, and contribute to nation-building, stating that the government is committed to supporting their educational and social development. The event also featured the release of the PM Poshan Guidelines, a coffee table book titled Vidyavant Vidyarthi, Vikshit Odisha, and the official logos for the Heritage Schools and Godabarish Mishra Adarsh Prathamika Vidyalaya.
The Children’s Day celebration saw more than 2,000 students and teachers from 30 districts come together. Prizes were awarded to differently-abled students excelling in various competitions.
Minister of Schools and Mass Education, Nityananda Gond, guest of honor, highlighted the government’s efforts to improve school education under the Chief Minister’s guidance, encouraging children to take advantage of these resources to build their future.
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj and Ekamra MLA Babu Singh also emphasized the role of children in shaping a prosperous Odisha by 2036, applauding their potential and creativity.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the School and Mass Education Department, Shalini Pandit gave the welcome address in the program and the State Project Director of the Odisha School Education Programme Authority Ananya Das gave the vote of thanks.
