On Nov 20, the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme in Odisha. The scheme aims to enhance the development of numerous schools across the country. Pradhan stated that the scheme will initially be implemented in 63 institutes run by the Centre out of the 97 Central Schools and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in the state.

The Centre has requested all states and Union Territories to sign MoUs with the Ministry of Education's Department of School Education and Literacy to implement the scheme. The Odisha government has not yet done it.

According to the union minister, the PM SHRI scheme will be executed in the state with over Rs 120 crore.

The Centre has approved a budget of Rs 50.8 crore for the state's Centre-run schools for the year 2023-24. An amount of Rs 12.7 crore has already been disbursed in the first installment. A sum of Rs 7.27 crore was allocated to 37 central schools, while Rs 5.43 crore was allocated to 26 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.

According to Pradhan, the government of India allocates approximately Rs 70,000 crore to different states annually for the improvement of the education sector. Odisha receives nearly Rs 4,200 crore each year through the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and PM Poshan schemes.

The Union Minister expressed disappointment with the lack of implementation of the PM SHRI scheme in Odisha government-run schools. He emphasized that the development of education and students is a shared responsibility and urged the state government to take action in this regard.

"In the last year, I have written letters to the chief minister (Naveen Patnaik) thrice for implementation of the PM SHRI scheme in Odisha schools. I once again request the CM with folding hands to consider it, he said.