CM Majhi Launches ‘Shishu Vatika’ & Expands Midday Meal Scheme In Odisha

Bhubaneswar,  : The Odisha government on Wednesday introduced ‘Shishu Vatika,’ a pre-school education initiative under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Alongside, the state observed ‘Pravesh Divas,’ marking the beginning of student enrolments for the 2025-26 academic session. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the programme along with the ‘Khadi Chuan’ tradition at Badagada High School in Bhubaneswar. The state aims to strengthen early childhood education with the implementation of NEP 2020. Additionally, the government extended the Midday Meal programme under the ‘Mukhyamantri Poshan Yojana’ to include students of Classes IX and X, who were previously excluded from the scheme, which was limited to Classes I to VIII. “With Pravesh Divas, we have revived the tradition of ‘Khadi Chuan’ to mark the commencement of the enrolment process for the upcoming academic year in Shishu Vatikas. Furthermore, we are now offering nutritious meals, including an extra egg and ladoos made from millet and peanuts, to students of Classes IX and X under the Midday Meal programme,” said CM Majhi. He emphasized that NEP 2020 had not been implemented in the state over the past five years. However, the new government has prioritized its rollout, ensuring foundational education for children from the age of five. In a video message, the Chief Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing quality education for Odisha’s students. He highlighted that the ‘Prabesh Utsav’ and ‘Khadi Chuan’ initiatives are designed to encourage student enrolment
and make their first day of school a memorable experience. “Our goal is to build an empowered, modern, and selfreliant future for Odisha’s students through initiatives like Shishu Vatika,” Majhi added. “We are committed to providing quality education. The implementation of NEP 2020 and the launch of Shishu Vatika will ensure a strong foundation for students. Special initiatives like Prabesh Utsav and Khadi Chhuan have been introduced to encourage learning,” he stated. The Shishu Vatika programme is expected to play a vital role in building a modern, selfreliant, and empowered future for children in Odisha by strengthening early education and creating a nurturing school environment.

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