Odisha Invests ₹850 Crore in Government School Infrastructure Under Alumni Connect Scheme

The Odisha government has spent more than ₹850 crore on upgrading government schools under its Alumni Connect programme since the initiative was launched in 2017, with thousands of infrastructure projects completed through joint contributions from former students and the state.

As reported by The New Indian Express, the figures were presented during the second Managing Council meeting of the Pancha Sakha Siksha Setu Sangathan at Lok Seva Bhawan on Wednesday. School and Mass Education Department Secretary N. Thirumala Naik said the programme has grown into one of the state’s largest alumni-driven education initiatives, bringing together over 11.56 lakh alumni from across Odisha.

Their participation has resulted in the completion of 80,334 projects, ranging from repairs to the construction of new facilities in government schools.

Naik said alumni have collectively contributed more than ₹288 crore, while the state government has supported these efforts with ₹571 crore in double matching grants. The combined funding has been used to improve school infrastructure through repairs, additional classrooms, multipurpose halls, libraries, reading rooms, kitchens, cycle stands, furniture and other essential facilities.

The state plans to continue expanding the programme, with ₹80 crore earmarked for the scheme in the upcoming financial year, Naik said.

He also shared the programme’s performance during 2025–26, noting that 20,064 alumni reconnected with their schools and donated ₹15.87 crore. The government supplemented these contributions by releasing ₹31.75 crore as double matching grants.

Addressing the meeting, Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the organisation’s work should not be confined to strengthening school infrastructure alone. She urged it to play a broader role in improving the overall quality of education.