Bhubaneswar: A total of Rs 108,21,51,000 has been provided to the Director of Secondary Education, Odisha, for the distribution of free uniforms to Class IX and X students in Government and Government-Aided Secondary Schools across the state, as informed by the School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond in the state assembly on Friday.
In response to a question from Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous, Minister Gond clarified that every student in Class IX and X will receive a free uniform, along with other necessary accessories, with a budget allocation of Rs 1,000 per student.
For the financial year 2024-25, the sum of Rs 108.21 crore has been earmarked to implement this scheme, with Rs 1,000 allocated per student for the provision of the uniforms.
Minister Gond further confirmed that there have been no additional funds spent on changing the color of the uniforms under the “Mukhyamantri Chhatra Chhatri Paridhan Yojana.”
In response to additional queries, the Minister also highlighted that the School and Mass Education Department, under various State Sector Schemes and Centrally Sponsored Schemes, has set aside funds for the construction, repair, renovation, and maintenance of school infrastructure, which includes the repainting of school premises.
However, no separate funds have been allocated for repainting school premises under the Mukhyamantri Chhatra Chhatri Paridhan Yojana from June 2024 to date.
