Bhubaneswar: A five-day residential training programme for wardens of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) began at the Regional Institute of Education (RIE), Bhubaneswar, on Monday.
The programme is jointly organised by the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, New Delhi, and the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA).
Addressing the participants, OSEPA Additional Director Sangeeta Behera urged the wardens to become more efficient and sensitive in their responsibilities. She said wardens play a vital role in creating a safe, inclusive and supportive residential environment for girl students.
Behera said the workshop aims to strengthen the capacity of wardens and help transform KGBVs into secure, disciplined, student-friendly, and quality residential educational institutions.
OSEPA Joint Director Dr Santosh Kumar Rout welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of strong communication among students, parents, teachers and the community. He also stressed the need to promote regular health check-ups, nutritional security, menstrual hygiene, sanitation, and healthy lifestyle practices among students.
Union Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar, NIEPA Professor Shashikala Wanjari, Joint Secretary Archana Sharma Awasthi, Deputy Secretary Ram Niwas, Dr Santwana G. Mishra, Dr Kumar Gaurav and Dr Imra Kerketta attended the inaugural session virtually. The guests also unveiled an official handbook during the programme.
The training is being attended by teacher educators from DIETs, district gender coordinators, and more than 70 KGBV wardens from five districts of Odisha. RIE Principal Prof. Manasi Goswami, Prof. Ritanjali Das, Dr Sarita, and OSEPA State Gender Coordinator Lahari Mohanty were also present.
