Odisha's Chief Minister Launches School Enrollment Festival and Khadi Chuan Ceremony

A New Beginning for Young Learners

Bhubaneswar: On Saturday, Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the state-level school enrollment festival alongside the traditional 'Khadi Chuan' ceremony at the Raj Bhavan Government Upper Primary School in Bhubaneswar.

During the event, the Chief Minister assisted young students in writing the words 'Mother' and 'Father' on slates with chalk, symbolizing their formal entry into education. He engaged with the children, fostering a friendly environment for those starting their educational journey.

CM Majhi also toured exhibitions that highlighted teaching and learning materials developed through initiatives like 'Nipun Odisha' and 'Padhiba Gadhhiba Odisha', which are currently being rolled out in schools throughout the state.

As part of the celebration, he distributed educational kits, praised the children's artistic creations, and launched an awareness chariot aimed at boosting school enrollment.

The 'Khadi Chuan' ceremony, a traditional rite of passage into education in Odisha, has been officially recognized at the government level since last year to encourage more children to enroll in schools.

To enhance enrollment efforts, nearly five lakh invitation letters have been sent out across the state this year. The Chief Minister reaffirmed the government's dedication to ensuring that every child has access to education, aiming for a 100% enrollment rate.

He mentioned that in accordance with the National Education Policy, anganwadi centers will gradually be incorporated into pre-primary education under the 'Shishu Vatika' initiative.

Present at the event were School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Commissioner-cum-Secretary N. Thirumala Naik, OSEPA Project Director Ananya Das, along with several MLAs.