Bhubaneswar: Frustrated by the slow progress of the Godabarish Mishra Model Primary Schools (GMMPS) initiative, Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has instructed district collectors to identify suitable land for establishing at least 2,200 schools by March 2027.

This directive was given during a review of the GMMPS program, which is a key initiative of the BJP-led government in Odisha, held on Wednesday.

Majhi emphasized the importance of this program for enhancing primary education throughout the state.

The state government has allocated Rs 2,200 crore for the establishment of GMMPS in every gram panchayat during the fiscal year 2026-27, a substantial increase from the previous year’s budget of Rs 50 crore.

Additionally, the Chief Minister urged district collectors to consider acquiring private land near existing schools if government land is insufficient.

“Take help of local MLAs in acquiring land for setting up the GMMPS,” Majhi advised the collectors.

He further directed them to monitor the scheme’s implementation weekly and to provide progress updates to the Secretary of the School and Mass Education Department every seven days.

Majhi assured that he would personally assess the project’s progress on a monthly basis to guarantee its timely execution.

The GMMPS initiative aims to establish world-class primary schools at the gram panchayat level, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

As per an official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, construction has already commenced for 322 GMMPS.

The Chief Minister noted that the program’s success hinges on effective coordination at the district level, with collectors playing a crucial role in meeting these objectives.