Alumni Contribute ₹288 Crore to Odisha’s Govt School Development Drive

Bhubaneswar: More than 11.56 lakh former students have joined hands with their alma maters under Odisha’s Panchashakha Shiksha Setu Sangathan, contributing to the implementation of over 80,000 school development projects, officials informed during the organisation’s second governing body meeting held on Wednesday.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, who is also the Chairperson of the Sangathan, reviewed the progress of various programmes, budget utilisation, action plan for the coming year and the overall functioning of the alumni-driven initiative aimed at strengthening government schools across the state.

Presenting a detailed report, School and Mass Education Commissioner-cum-Secretary N. Tirumala said 11.56 lakh alumni have been connected through the Old Students Connection Programme, leading to the execution of 80,334 projects in schools across Odisha.

According to the department, alumni have contributed ₹288 crore, while the State Government has released a double matching grant of ₹571 crore. These resources have been utilised for construction of classrooms, multipurpose halls, science laboratories, libraries, kitchens, bicycle stands and other infrastructure, besides renovation of school buildings. An additional ₹80 crore has been earmarked for the programme in the next financial year.

Officials further informed that during 2025-26, around 20.6 per cent of former students reconnected with their schools, contributing ₹15.87 crore, against which the government sanctioned a matching grant of ₹31.58 crore.

Reviewing the initiative, Chief Secretary Garg stressed that the focus should now extend beyond infrastructure to improving the quality of education in government schools. She suggested upgrading the organisation’s website to make it easier for alumni to contribute financially, track projects and remain connected with their institutions.

She also called for restructuring the management committee by inducting new members and directed officials to establish a robust mechanism for periodic evaluation of projects to ensure quality implementation and measurable outcomes.

The meeting reviewed the progress of several flagship initiatives, including the Chief Minister’s Education Award, Heritage School Programme, Aspirational Curriculum, school beautification drives, Women Youth Support Groups for school safety, and the construction of central public halls. Discussions also covered school maintenance, expanding alumni participation, mobilising Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support and strengthening digital systems for programme management.

After the meeting, Garg appealed to former students in India and abroad to actively contribute to the development of their schools, stating that their experience, expertise and financial support can play a vital role in creating better educational opportunities for future generations.

The meeting was attended by OSEPA Project Director and Member Secretary Ananya Das, Chief Executive Officer Rajalakshmi Dash, members of the management council, senior officials and all district collectors through video conferencing.