First governing body meeting of Panchasakha Shiksha Setu held

Bhubaneswar: The contribution of alumni to their alma maters is invaluable. Their support and participation play a vital role in the growth and progress of schools, strengthening their infrastructure and enhancing the quality of education. Their dedication and commitment continue to drive the institutions forward.

To further expand alumni participation and involvement in school development, a series of new initiatives and programs will be introduced, said Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, who chaired the first Governing Body Meeting of Panchasakha Shiksha Setu on Saturday.

The meeting, conducted in the Chief Secretary’s Conference Hall, reviewed the progress of various programs and initiatives undertaken following the first and second Executive Committee meetings. In the two previous meetings, a total of 1,569 projects worth 26 crore were approved across 25 districts, combining alumni contributions with matching government funds.

Appreciating the ongoing activities of the organization, Ahuja emphasized the importance of alumni-led development initiatives and urged continued collaboration to strengthen the education ecosystem in the state.

During the meeting, it was decided that under the joint initiative of the School and Mass Education Department, students from Classes VI to X in PM SHRI schools will receive training in financial literacy. An MoU between Panchasakha Shiksha Setu (PSS) and the National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE) will soon be signed for this purpose.

The Governing Body also approved the comprehensive development of 51 heritage schools identified under the Aitihya Vidyalaya initiative. Additionally, the proposal for the construction of mid-day meal halls in selected schools through CSR funding was approved.

The Governing Body sanctioned the annual budget of the organization and approved several program plans and budgetary allocations for the upcoming period.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary, School and Mass Education Department, Shalini Pandit, who is also the Vice-Chairperson of the organization, highlighted the importance of strengthening alumni engagement in school development.

Among those present at the meeting were Member Convenor and Secretary of Panchasakha Shiksha Setu Ananya Das, Special Secretary Rajlaxmi Das, Director of Elementary Education Balmukund Bhuiyan, Director of Secondary Education Birendra Karkara, Director of Higher Secondary Education Niyati Pattnaik, Joint Director, ST & SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department Tuku Barik, Director, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department Vineet Bhardwaj, Additional Secretary, School and Mass Education Department Durgaprasad Mohapatra, Additional Secretary, Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department Bhaskar Raito, Collector, Kendrapara Raghuram Iyer, Collector, Sundargarh Dr. Subhankar Mohapatra, Additional Collector, Malkangiri Bedabar Pradhan, and Special Programme Officer Dr. Maniprasad Mishra, among others.