Kendrapada: Basic infrastructure in Odisha’s govt schools has improved significantly, with over 82% now having internet access and nearly all equipped with toilets, drinking water and electricity, Centre informed Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.Of the state’s 46,801 govt schools, 38,748 have internet connectivity, 46,689 have toilet facilities, 46,798 have access to drinking water, 43,452 are enclosed by boundary walls and 46,667 have been electrified, minister of state for education Jayant Chaudhary said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo, adding there are a total of 1,94,840 classrooms.Highlighting the Centre’s role in school infrastructure development, Chaudhary said education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, and most schools fall under the jurisdiction of the state govts. Under Samagra Shiksha scheme, the Centre provides financial assistance to the states and Union territories on the basis of their annual work plan and budget (AWP&B), prepared according to local needs and priorities.Proposals submitted by states are appraised and approved by the project approval board (PAB) of the department of school education and literacy in consultation with the respective state govts, taking into account programme guidelines as well as physical and financial progress under the scheme, he added.The minister further said that Samagra Shiksha supports the creation and upgradation of school infrastructure, including new buildings, additional classrooms, science and computer laboratories, boundary walls, toilets, drinking water facilities, electrification, ramps for children with special needs, libraries, major repairs, laboratory equipment and solar panels. The infrastructure requirements projected under the scheme are based on assessments carried out by the state govts while preparing their respective AWP&Bs, he added.
