Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to waive off the fees for hostel boarders of Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas (OAVs) across the state.
The state Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Wednesday approved a proposal in this regard. The government will spend Rs 349.20 crore in five years from 2025 to 2030 to provide free boarding facilities at OAVs, an official release said.
There are 314 OAVs across Odisha, providing quality English medium education at the secondary level in rural areas. Separate boys’ hostels and girls’ hostels have also been set up to sort out any transportation problems.
Of 628 hostels, 173 hostels (Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya hostels) are being managed by the funds sanctioned under the Samagra Sikhya scheme. The boarders of the remaining 455 hostels (314 boys’ hostels and 141 girls’ hostels) are required to pay Rs 2,000 per month each as hostel fees.
The government has approved a proposal to bear the fees of the boarders of these 455 hostels through state funding. This will benefit over 45,000 students.
“The proposal to waive out the student’s contribution of Rs 2000 per month for students staying in non-KGBV hostels attached to Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas has been approved by the Cabinet. Total financial implication for this proposal is of Rs 349.20 crore for 5 years (from 01/04/2025 to 31/03/7030),” the release added.