Bhubaneswar, Dec 8: Even though the Narendra Modi government has introduced schemes for making the country's education sector reach new highs with Central funds in its consistent efforts under the New Education Policy 2020, the Naveen Patnaik Government in Odisha is still to introduce any of them.

Despite repeated communiques and personal requests by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, non-implementation of the schemes in Odisha has raised many questions. Even it indicates that the BJD government is acting solely on party considerations and it has no concern for the development of the state and its people.

While the BJD Government has not implemented the PM SHRI Scheme which ensures the establishment of schools with Central funds, the Prime Minister Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), a scheme meant to ensure growth in the higher education sector, is yet to be accepted by the Naveen Patnaik Government.

While signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) is a pre-requisite for the implementation of both schemes, the Naveen Patnaik government has not responded to Pradhan's repeated letters.

Yesterday, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan once again wrote to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik requesting him to implement the PM- USHA Scheme in the State soon.

In his letter, the Union Minister reminded the CM about his earlier letter on June 15, 2023, regarding the launch of the PM-USHA with an outlay of Rs 12,926.10 crore and the scheme will remain enforceable till March 31, 2026, in continuation of the scheme of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).

"The PM-USHA scheme is an important step of the Central government towards implementation of the National Education Policy, 2020 to attain a higher level of access, equity, and excellence in the States/UTs higher education system by prioritizing the unreserved and underserved areas, to be identified by States/UTs as focus districts on the bases of low GER, the population of SC/ST, leftwing-affected areas, etc. PM-USHA will aim at creating new institutions and also transforming existing institutions in the States and UTs," noted Pradhan.

"While the signing of an MoU is a prerequisite for inclusion of your State for implementation of the scheme, however, an MoU is yet to be signed by the Odisha government," wrote Pradhan.

He further informed that the process of submission of proposals for grants-in-aid under the PM USHA Scheme has already started through the dedicated portal for this purpose launched on October 21, 2023. While Odisha introduced RUSA to improve higher education scenarios, an MoU under the new scheme PM-USHA is yet to be signed by your government, Pradhan wrote to Patnaik.

"I seek your cooperation and continued support in implementing the PM- USHA scheme in Odisha and request you to look into this matter personally to ensure submission of the signed MoU by your State as per the format given in the guidelines as early as possible so that Odisha doesn't miss out on the benefits of the scheme," wrote Pradhan.

The Odisha government has also not implemented the Aayushman Bharat scheme and other welfare schemes that have already supported poor people across the country in a big way.

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