Bhubaneswar, Nov 28: The second day of the Odisha Assembly’s Winter Session began with Question Hour discussions ranging from school dropout rates to education reforms. Responding to a query from MLA Subasini Jena, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond outlined several measures taken by the state government to reduce school dropouts.

Gond said a statewide child-tracking survey had been conducted and “Asa School Jiba” (Let's go to school) campaign drives were underway to bring children back to classrooms. Enrollment campaigns have been organised at village level, and awareness activities were carried out through 'Prabesh Utsav'. The government is targeting 100 per cent enrollment across schools, he said.

The minister added that free uniforms, bicycles and other schemes were being provided to encourage attendance. While the PM Poshan scheme earlier covered students up to Class 8, the state has now extended “CM Poshan” to Classes 9 and 10. As many as 10.8 lakh students are currently receiving meals under the programme, he said.

Gond said the government is also considering recruiting 1,500 teachers for children with disabilities. He noted that Odisha, which previously had no PM Shri Schools, now has 462 such institutions since the new government took office. In Balasore district, 329 dropout students were identified and 300 have already returned to school, he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is set to present a supplementary budget of nearly Rs 10,000 crore in the Assembly on Friday afternoon.

The winter session, which began Thursday, will continue until December 31 and includes 29 working days. Police have implemented a three-tier security arrangement around the Assembly. On the opening day, the President delivered an address to the House.

The first supplementary budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year will be introduced Friday, with discussions on departmental expenditure demands scheduled from December 4. All three major legislative parties held strategy meetings ahead of the Session.

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Minister Mukesh Mahaling said the government is prepared to respond to issues raised by the Opposition, adding that the ruling BJP would present the achievements of its 16-month tenure before the House and the public.