Bhubaneswar: During a meeting of the Odisha Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Tuesday approval was given to a proposal to provide free textbooks to students of Classes IX and X in government and government-aided schools. The Cabinet also approved a ₹450-crore skill development scheme aimed at enhancing the employability of the state’s youth.

Briefing the media on the Cabinet decisions, Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the free textbook scheme is expected to benefit around 28.7 lakh students in government and government-aided secondary schools, excluding SC and ST students.

The scheme will be implemented over five years, from 2025-26 to 2029-30, with a total estimated outlay of ₹284.07 crore.

Under the scheme, the School and Mass Education Department will establish a robust mechanism for collecting, verifying and validating beneficiary data through field-level verification. The department will also ensure that textbooks are printed and delivered to schools well before the commencement of each academic session.

The Cabinet also approved the ‘Dakshyata Vikas Yojana’, a skill development initiative designed to strengthen the employability of Odisha’s youth and prepare them for emerging job opportunities in India and abroad.

With an outlay of ₹450 crore, the scheme will be implemented from 2026-27 to 2028-29 and is expected to benefit around 4.2 lakh youths across the state through industry-aligned training, digital skilling, overseas employment support and institutional strengthening, Garg said.

Under the programme, 1.17 lakh youths will receive short-term, placement-linked skill training, while three lakh youths will be trained in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, data analytics and cybersecurity.

The scheme will also support overseas employment by providing foreign-language training in German and Japanese, along with cultural orientation, certification assistance, visa support, travel assistance and post-placement services.

Special initiatives will be undertaken for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, jail inmates, transgender persons and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

The Cabinet further approved the continuation of the Chief Minister Skill Development Fellowship, under which 40 fellows will be deployed across districts. They will assist in assessing skill demand and gaps, developing industry partnerships and strengthening the implementation of skill development initiatives.

Additionally, a Skilled-in-Odisha Digital Hub will be established to facilitate end-to-end tracking of candidates and monitor the outcomes of skill development programmes.

A total of 14 proposals from 11 departments received approval at the Cabinet meeting.