Latest news with #SishuVatikas
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Sishu Sevikas to be appointed in pre-primary classes of govt schools: CM
Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday announced a policy decision to appoint Sishu Sevikas or childcare assistants in Sishu Vatikas, the pre-primary classes operating in govt schools across the state. According to sources, the state govt launched Sishu Vatikas in around 45,000 govt primary schools across Odisha, catering to children aged between five and six years from the current academic year. "Sishu Sevikas will play a crucial support role in classrooms by assisting the children and relieving teachers of non-teaching duties. This initiative will enable teachers to focus more effectively on teaching, thereby enhancing the overall quality of education in pre-primary classes," Majhi said. "The aim of this policy decision is toward improving foundational learning environment and ensuring that children in Odisha's govt schools receive better care and support during their formative years," Majhi added. According to the official decision, Sishu Sevikas will receive wages equivalent to those of cooks currently working in govt schools. Their honorarium will be drawn from the Samagra Shiksha budget, which supports integrated school education. The role of Sishu Sevikas will include ensuring the safety and well-being of children in the classroom, helping them with washing hands, meals, toilet usage and classroom routines. They will also assist with distributing books and toys, accompanying children when they leave the classroom and maintain a brief daily record of each child's well-being. However, the govt has made it clear that Sishu Sevikas will not be involved in teaching activities. They are strictly prohibited from scolding, punishing or administering any medical treatment to the children. If a child is unwell or emotionally distressed, the Sishu Sevika is expected to promptly inform the class teacher.
New Indian Express
21-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Odisha increases mid-day meals allocation by Rs 2.92 per student
BHUBANESWAR: The cost of mid-day meals (MDM) in the state was hiked again on Thursday, owing to the introduction of an additional egg and nutritional laddoos for school students. The School and Mass Education department notified on Thursday that the government has enhanced the material cost by an additional amount of Rs 2.92 per student for both primary and upper primary students, bringing the revised cost to Rs 11.15 for primary and Rs 14.74 for upper primary per student per day. Earlier this year, the state government introduced MDM for students of Class IX and X of government and government-aided schools and also decided to give all students, starting from Sishu Vatikas to Class X, three eggs and as many nutri-rich laddoos in MDM every week. From April 1, students received eggs in their meals on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and nutri-rich laddoos on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in morning assembly. The MDM is provided under the PM-POSHAN scheme which is implemented in a 60:40 cost sharing pattern between the Centre and state. At present, the Centre has fixed the material cost at Rs 6.78 for primary and Rs 10.17 for upper primary per day, since May 1. The state government provides an additional material cost of Rs 1.45 for primary and Rs 1.65 for upper primary per student per day. This brings the total material cost of MDM to Rs 8.23 for primary and Rs 11.82 for upper primary. The financial implication of MDM for Class IX and X students, additional egg and three laddoos, amounting to Rs 570.71 crore annually, will be borne from the state Budget under the Mukhyamantri Poshan Yojana.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Junior teachers demand regularisation of jobs
Bhubaneswar: Thousands of contractual/schematic junior teachers from various govt-run and govt-aided schools sat on a dharna near the state legislative assembly on Friday, demanding the regularisation of their jobs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The junior teachers, under the aegis of the Odisha Junior Teachers (Schematic) Association, first conducted a protest rally from Master Canteen to Lower PMG before sitting on a dharna in front of the assembly. The association's convenor, Shesadev Yajnakam Deo, said the state govt has already abolished the contractual system in govt jobs, yet more than 13,000 junior teachers continue to work on a contractual basis for the first six years of their employment. "We are now called junior teachers (schematic) instead of junior teachers (contractual). But only a word has been changed. We are currently receiving Rs 16,100 per month as remuneration. In case of death during the first six months, our families do not get any benefits from the govt. The first six years of our service will not be counted for career progression because our job becomes regular after six years of service. This system should be abolished," he added. He said that though the BJP-led state govt increased their monthly salary from Rs 11,100 to Rs 16,100, it is yet to abolish the contractual system. "The govt should recruit the schematic teachers as regular teachers from the day of their appointment," Deo added. School and mass education minister Nityananda Gond said the govt is aware of their demand and will take steps at the appropriate time. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He appealed to the teachers to refrain from taking to the streets. "Our govt has hiked the salary of junior teachers. It shows that the govt is concerned about them. We will take steps after reviewing the situation," he added. Gond urged the junior teachers not to worry and said they should continue their work. Deo further said, "The govt is opening Sishu Vatikas in primary schools to teach children before they enrol in Class I. But infrastructure and manpower in the schools is not sufficient for starting the Sishu Vatikas. If the govt does not appoint teachers for the Sishu Vatikas, it will be an extra burden for us. We urge the govt to appoint teachers for this new initiative under the National Education Policy (NEP)."
