Bhubaneswar, October 13: The Odisha Government on Tuesday approved the "Supply of Free Textbooks” scheme to provide free textbooks to the students studying in Government and Government-aided Secondary schools (other than SC&ST) in the State.

The decision was taken during a State Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at the Lok Seva Bhawan here.

The scheme is intended to be implemented for a period of five years - from 2025¬26 to 2029-30 - with a total estimated outlay of Rs 284.07 crore covering a tentative beneficiary of 28.7 lakh.

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The objective of the scheme is to provide free textbooks to the students studying in Class-IX & Class-X in Government and Government Aided schools so as to ensure equitable access to quality education, reduce the financial burden on economically weaker families, improve enrolment in Government Schools, reduce the drop-out rate and facilitate a higher transition rate from elementary to secondary education.

According to a Cabinet note, the procurement of paper, printing, transportation and distribution of textbooks will be undertaken through a transparent, competitive and economical procurement process in conformity with provisions of OGFR, applicable procurement guidelines and Government instructions issued from time to time.

The School & Mass Education Department will establish a robust mechanism for collection, verification and validation of beneficiary data from field level verification. The Department shall ensure that textbooks are printed and supplied to all schools well before commencement of each academic session, it stated.