Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has once again written to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urging the latter to take the necessary steps for implementation of PM SHRI School scheme in the state.

Pradhan said he has raised the issue with Patnaik through two letters in March and October this year. However, the Odisha government is yet to take the necessary steps for implementation of the centrally-sponsored scheme in the state.

According to Pradhan, the Centre had launched PM SHRI School scheme on September 7, 2022 to develop as many as 14,500 schools with all modern infrastructure. These schools are supposed to display all the components of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 and provide high-quality education in equitable, inclusive and joyful environment.

The Centre had requested all the states and Union Territories (UTs) to sign MoUs with the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) at the Ministry of Education for implementation of the PM SHRI School scheme.

“Most of the states and UTs have signed MoUs with the DoSEL for implementation of the scheme. The selection of schools for development under the scheme in the first phase has been completed and the first installment of funds in this regard has been released by the Centre. The selection of schools for the second phase is now under way. However, the Odisha government is yet to sign the MoU with the DoSEL,” said Pradhan in his letter to the Odisha Chief Minister.

Several letters have been written to the Odisha government by the Centre, including two from the Union Education Ministry, for necessary steps for implementation of PM SHRI School scheme in the state. However, the state government is yet to sign the MoU with the DoSEL, Pradhan added.

“Therefore, I would request you again to issue the necessary directions to the concerned officers to sign the MoU for PM SHRI School scheme with the DoSEL,” Pradhan said in his letter.