Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday participated in the state-level Pravesh Utsav and Khadi Chhuan programme, initiating the formal learning journey of young children and emphasising the importance of universal enrolment in education.
The Chief Minister attended the programme held at Raj Bhavan Government Upper Primary School in Bhubaneswar, where he symbolically began children’s education by guiding them to write “mother” and “father” on slates using chalk.
Interacting warmly with the children, he engaged them in simple conversations about their families and daily lives, helping create a comfortable and encouraging environment for their first learning experience.
Speaking on the occasion, Majhi said that celebrating the beginning of education as a festival in every village and locality is encouraging parents to enrol their children in schools.
He underlined that the initiative aims to ensure that no child in the state is deprived of education and that learning begins with interest and respect rather than fear.
Highlighting the state’s efforts to achieve 100 percent enrolment, the Chief Minister said that around five lakh invitation cards have been distributed this year to motivate parents to send their children to school.
Describing the Khadi Chhuan ceremony as a sacred tradition in Odia culture, he noted that the state government has institutionalised the practice in recent years to promote early education.
The Chief Minister also visited an exhibition showcasing teaching and learning materials developed under the ‘Nipun Odisha’ and ‘Padhiba, Gadhhiba Odisha’ initiatives across schools.
During the programme, he distributed educational kits to children and appreciated their participation in drawing activities. Several children also presented their artworks to the Chief Minister.
Appealing to the media, Majhi urged them to act as a bridge between government initiatives and the public, and to help transform the education campaign into a mass movement across the state. He emphasised that education is the true asset for the future and called for greater public awareness.
He also advised teachers to treat students with care and nurture their talents to ensure holistic development.
As part of the programme, the Chief Minister flagged off an education awareness vehicle aimed at spreading awareness about enrolment and learning initiatives.
School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, legislators Babu Singh, Prashant Kumar Jagdev and Ananta Narayan Jena, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das, social worker Jagannath Pradhan, and senior officials including Commissioner-cum-Secretary N. Thirumala Naik and OSEPA Project Director Ananya Das were present at the event.
