Odisha Announces Free Education from KG to PG Under 'Jnanodaya' Scheme; Major Relief for Students and Parents

The government of Odisha announced the 'Jnanodaya – Prosperity through Education' scheme for free education from Kindergarten (KG) to Postgraduate (PG) level, thereby giving a huge push to education. It's expected to positively impact the student's education and make it more affordable for families statewide.

The announcement was made at the 43rd meeting of the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi at Lokaseva Bhawan. The programme will help prevent any student from dropping out of school due to financial constraints, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

Who will get the benefit of Odisha's Free Education Scheme?

The scheme will be applicable to students from KG to PG level in Odisha, the state government has announced. It is designed to be free education at various levels of academic study, such as school studies and higher education.

It will have a special impact on the children of the economically weaker sections of the society who are unable to complete their education owing to the increasing costs of education, the government said. This scheme should also motivate more girls to attend higher education.

The CMO Odisha in a social media posting informed that no student or girl student should be denied education due to financial constraints and should not be made to drop out halfway through the course.

What does the announcement imply to the students?

The decision is expected to help increase enrolment, reduce dropouts and enrolment in higher education institutions in Odisha, experts in the field say, as education becomes more affordable.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has termed the initiative as a "revolutionary decision regarding education" and 'Jnanodaya– Prosperity through Education' will work to give every child and youth in the state the right to equal educational opportunities, irrespective of their economic status.

Implementation Guidelines will be available soon

The policy has been announced, but the Odisha government is likely to provide the time-bound details of its implementation in the coming days, such as who is eligible and how it will be done.

The Jnanodaya scheme is emerging as a major initiative to increase access to education and provide support to students from school to post school level, across Odisha, by removing financial obstacles to learning.