In a major boost to public school education and community-led infrastructure development, the sixth Executive Council meeting of Panchasakha Shiksha Setu approved 707 development projects worth Rs 7.73 crore spanning 29 districts across Odisha.
The initiative showcases the growing momentum of alumni participation in upgrading state-run educational institutions. Through direct donations from former students, parents, School Management Committee (SMC) members, local intellectuals, and civic organisations, a foundational sum of Rs 2,57,90,810 was raised. Under the matching grant framework of Panchasakha Shiksha Setu—which effectively triples the initial community contribution—the total project funds swelled to Rs 7,73,72,430.
The newly sanctioned funds will target critical operational and physical needs in schools, including:
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Classroom repairs and structural maintenance
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Upgraded clean drinking water facilities
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Construction of protective boundary walls and school gates
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Campus beautification and green spaces
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Installation of secure bicycle stands
According to official records, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, Jajpur, and Cuttack emerged as the top-performing districts in generating financial contributions, highlighting strong community ownership and pride in local schools.
Chaired by Dr N. Thirumala Naik, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the School and Mass Education Department and Chairman of the Executive Council, the meeting focused on deepening the bond between schools and their former students. Dr Naik stressed that sustainable educational reform relies on active, continuous collaboration between institutions and their community networks.
Launch of New Outreach Initiatives
To further amplify community involvement, the Council announced two new flagship digital campaigns:
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Alumni Podcast: A structured podcast series featuring prominent alumni from diverse professions who will share their educational journeys, early struggles, and career triumphs. The podcast aims to motivate other alumni to give back while providing current students with direct mentorship and vocational inspiration.
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District Spotlight: A social-media-driven initiative to document, record, and showcase local transformations driven by Panchasakha Shiksha Setu funds. By highlighting real-world success stories across different districts, the project aims to foster healthy competition and encourage wider participation statewide.
The high-level meeting was attended by Sangeeta Behera, Member Secretary of Panchasakha Shiksha Setu and SPD (I/c) of the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA), along with senior Executive Council members who reviewed ongoing developmental targets across the state.
