In a significant move to foster creativity and holistic development among young learners, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the state-level children's festival 'Surabhi' on Wednesday at Capital High School in Bhubaneswar.
Beyond Talent Showcasing: Nurturing Dreams
Chief Minister Majhi emphasized that Surabhi serves as more than just a platform for displaying talents. He highlighted its crucial role in nurturing children's dreams, creativity, and thought processes, marking a shift from mere performance to comprehensive development.
The festival has attracted participation from over 2,400 students who demonstrated exceptional performance in block and district level competitions. The event also includes teachers and more than 1,000 government officials and employees, creating a comprehensive educational ecosystem.
Record Education Budget and New Initiatives
Making a significant announcement, CM Majhi revealed that the state government has allocated a record ₹41,273 crore for education. This substantial allocation represents 14.2% of the current budget and 3.9% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), demonstrating the government's strong commitment to educational development.
The education department has received the highest outlay among all departments, with primary education taking the largest share of the budget. This strategic allocation underscores the government's focus on strengthening the foundation of education from early childhood.
A notable addition to this year's program is the 'Nipun Odisha, Nipun Bharat' (Skilful Odisha, Skilful India) initiative, which specifically targets students from classes I to III, encouraging participation at both school and cluster levels.
Comprehensive Festival Activities and Recognition
School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond elaborated on the festival's objectives, stating that Surabhi encourages students to identify and develop their latent skills. The festival fosters a spirit of dreaming big and achieving goals through dedicated effort and perseverance.
The event features an extensive range of activities including:
- Various educational and creative competitions
- Local educational excursions
- Interactions with distinguished personalities
- Exhibition of outstanding science projects
- Model United Nations pavilion
- Skill development workshops
- Group cultural programmes
During the inauguration, CM Majhi and other dignitaries visited various student exhibitions, acknowledging the innovative projects and creative works displayed. The program also included recognition of exceptional students, with five recipients receiving the chief minister's language scholarship.
In a thoughtful gesture emphasizing inclusive education, wheelchairs were provided to differently-abled students, ensuring equal participation opportunities for all children.
Chief Minister Majhi concluded by emphasizing that children represent the future and hope of the nation, and the government remains committed to providing quality education from early childhood through Class XII, creating a strong foundation for the state's development.
