Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) to school authorities for distribution of textbooks and notebooks to the parents of students during the lockdown.
However, schools located in containment zones are prohibited from distributing textbooks.
The Education Department issued the SOP on Thursday because many schools have been facing difficulties in distributing the textbooks to students amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The department has asked the schools to schedule the distribution of textbooks days wise and inform the parents regarding the process over Whatsapp /SMS to avoid unnecessary crowding.
“The distribution of books can immediately be taken up in schools located in Green Zones, Orange Zones and Red Zones following precautionary measures of social distancing, use of mask and hand hygiene. The distribution in the containment zones can be taken up after the zone comes out of containment category,” the SOP read.
Moreover, the school authorities have to ensure social distancing norms while carrying out the process by allowing only 30 parents at a time (15 persons at counters and 15 persons in the waiting lobby). Parents also need to abide by the Health Department guidelines like wearing of masks and maintain distancing norms.
Looking at the prevailing heat conditions, the department has also advised the schools to make adequate drinking water arrangements.
All the parents and guardians should immediately vacate the premises of school after receipt of the books, as per the notification.
