BHUBANESWAR: In a major push to the education, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has launched robotics laboratories in 807 government schools at a cost of Rs 164.33 crore.
The labs will impart practical training in robotics, coding, artificial intelligence, machine learning and 3D printing to students of Classes 6 to 10.
Inaugurating three-day children’s festival, ‘Surabhi-2026’, Majhi presented awards to students, teachers and institutions. More than 2,500 meritorious students from across Odisha are attending the programme.
‘Nipun App’
Majhi launched the ‘Nipun App’, a free Android-based educational platform aimed at strengthening foundational learning among primary school students.
‘ସମୃଦ୍ଧ ଭାଷା, ସମୃଦ୍ଧ ଓଡ଼ିଶା’ର ବାର୍ତ୍ତା ନେଇ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହେଲା ତିନିଦିନିଆ ରାଜ୍ୟସ୍ତରୀୟ ଶିଶୁ ମହୋତ୍ସବ ‘ସୁରଭି-୨୦୨୬’। ମାନ୍ୟବର ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha ଏହି ମହୋତ୍ସବକୁ ଉଦ୍ଘାଟନ କରିବା ସହ ‘ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶିକ୍ଷା ପୁରସ୍କାର’ ପ୍ରଦାନ କରିଛନ୍ତି।
ଏହି ଅବସରରେ ରାଜ୍ୟର ଶିକ୍ଷା କ୍ଷେତ୍ରକୁ ଆହୁରି ସମୃଦ୍ଧ କରିବା ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟରେ ଅନେକ ଅଭିନବ ପଦକ୍ଷେପର ଶୁଭାରମ୍ଭ ହୋଇଛି।
🔹 ୮୦୭ଟି ବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟରେ ₹୧୬୪.୩୩ କୋଟି ବ୍ୟୟରେ ଅତ୍ୟାଧୁନିକ ରୋବୋଟିକ୍ସ ଲ୍ୟାବ୍ର ଶୁଭାରମ୍ଭ।
🔹 ମୌଳିକ ଶିକ୍ଷାର ଗୁଣବତ୍ତା ବୃଦ୍ଧି ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟରେ ‘ନିପୁଣ ଆପ୍’ର ଲୋକାର୍ପଣ।
🔹 ୩୭୫ ଜଣ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିବିଶେଷ ଓ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନଙ୍କୁ ‘ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶିକ୍ଷା ପୁରସ୍କାର’ ପ୍ରଦାନ ସହ ଏଥିପାଇଁ ₹୧୩୮ କୋଟିରୁ ଉର୍ଦ୍ଧ୍ବ ପ୍ରୋସାହନ ରାଶି ବିନିଯୋଗ ।
🔹 ୭,୩୫୦ ଜଣ ମେଧାବୀ ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ‘ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷା ବୃତ୍ତି’ ପ୍ରଦାନ ।
— EducationOdisha (@SMEOdisha) November 12, 2026
He presented the Mukhyamantri Shiksha Puraskar to meritorious teachers, students and educational institutions.
In total, 375 individuals and institutions were honoured as part of the state-level award scheme for 2024 and 2025, an official statement said.
Nearly Rs 139 crore has been allocated as incentives under the scheme, covering awards from the block to the state level.
‘Mukhyamantri Odia Bhasha Brutti’
The Chief Minister also distributed the ‘Mukhyamantri Odia Bhasha Brutti’, under which 7,350 meritorious students receive an annual grant of Rs 7,500 each for excellence in the study of Odia. Ten high-achieving students and four Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) toppers were also felicitated.
“Surabhi nurtures children’s creativity, talent and potential by providing the right opportunities and learning environment. Initiatives like robotics labs encourage innovation, build confidence and inspire children to dream big,” Majhi posted on social media platform X.
He said mobile phones should primarily be used as learning tools rather than for entertainment.
“It is skill, not a degree, that serves as the genuine guarantee for securing a livelihood,” Majhi said.