The Odisha government has announced a significant initiative to support school children in remote areas by providing over Rs 21 crore in transport and escort allowance for the academic session 2024-25. This initiative, approved by the Project Approval Board (PAB) of the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education, will benefit a total of 35,076 students across the state.
The allowance is designed to assist students who face challenges in reaching their respective schools due to long distances. Students studying in government and government-aided primary, upper primary, and secondary schools in remote areas are eligible for this benefit. The amount of allowance varies based on attendance, with students maintaining 75 percent or above attendance receiving Rs 600 per month, those with 50-74 percent attendance getting Rs 400 per month, and students with 30-50 percent attendance receiving Rs 300 per month. However, students with less than 30 percent attendance are ineligible for the allowance.
To ensure efficient disbursement, the allowance amount will be directly credited to the bank accounts of the students or their parents. The Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) has instructed all District Education Officers (DEOs) to ensure timely disbursement and to submit utilization certificates.
Data reveals that 21,469 primary school students, 11,943 upper primary students, and 1,664 secondary school students from all 30 districts of Odisha will receive the transport and escort allowance this year. The highest amount, totaling Rs 2.74 crore, will be disbursed to students in Ganjam district, where 4,577 students are eligible for the allowance. Interestingly, Kendrapada district will not receive any allowance as students in the district do not travel more than 1km to reach their schools. Other districts, including Balasore, Khurda, Puri, and Jajpur, have a smaller number of students eligible for this allowance.
This initiative is expected to play a crucial role in promoting access to education for students residing in remote areas, ensuring their continued participation in the learning process, and ultimately, contributing to the overall improvement of education standards in Odisha.
