Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated the ‘Sabu Dina Jiba School, Upasthana-2018 Abhiyan’ (going to school every day, students’ attendance-2018 Abhiyan).

The move is aimed at to ensure better attendance at government schools and to improve quality of education.

The CM launched this awareness programme in a meeting at State Secretariat this afternoon urging parents, teachers and local representatives to get involved in the initiative.

He also announced that the State government would give out awards to panchayats with 100 per cent school attendance.

There is a need to spread awareness about the benefits of regular attendance among pupils. This could be done through mass media and booklets.

School and Mass Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra, Development Commissioner, School and Mass Education Department Principal Secretary Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representatives and other senior officials were present at the meeting.