Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday launched the second phase of the Godabarish Mishra Adarsha Vidyalaya (GAV) scheme by laying the foundation stone for 204 new model schools across the State.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening school education and expanding access to quality learning infrastructure, the Chief Minister inaugurated the second phase of the programme at Lokanath Dev Government High School in Kumarabasta under Jatni Assembly constituency in Khordha district.
Addressing the gathering, Majhi said the government is working towards establishing at least one model school in every panchayat to ensure equitable access to quality education, particularly for students in rural and underserved areas. “The foundation stone for the second phase of the Godabarish Mishra Adarsha Vidyalaya Scheme has been laid today as promised by our government. Earlier, foundation stones for 118 such schools were laid at Banapur in Khordha district. With the launch of the second phase, more panchayats, including those in Khordha, will benefit from modern educational infrastructure,” he added.
Under the first phase of the scheme, foundation stones were laid for 118 Godabarish Mishra Adarsha Vidyalayas. With the addition of 204 schools in the second phase, the State government has significantly expanded the initiative aimed at developing modern educational institutions equipped with improved academic, digital and sports infrastructure.
The GAV scheme is one of the flagship initiatives of the Odisha government to enhance the quality of school education and provide students with a conducive learning environment on par with the best educational institutions in the state. Last year, the Odisha Cabinet had approved an outlay of Rs 12,000 crore to set up 2,200 primary schools under the GAV scheme in three years from 2025-26.
Among others, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, public representatives and senior government officials attended the programme.