Class 10, 12 Hostels In Odisha To Reopen On July 26; Govt Issues SOPs

The Odisha government on Wednesday granted permission for reopening of hostels for students of Class 10 and Class 12 in the State for the academic session 2021-22.   

As per a notification issued by the State School and Mass Education Department, hostels for the students of Class X and Class XII will reopen from July 26, 2021. 
Hostels of schools communing under the control of S&ME department, ST&SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare department, Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities department, private schools and privately managed English Medium Schools will be reopen from July 26, S&ME Additional Secretary Pratap Kumar Mishra said in a letter.

The department has issued following SOPs for reopening of hostels:

• The Head of the Institute / Hostel should ensure that students are kept at appropriate distance and staggered manner 
• The common area in the Hostel like Mess and Toilet is maintained and sanitized properly with regular interval. Sufficient quantity of Soap / Hand Sanitizes must be made available by the Institutes for use of the Residents. 
• The students staying the Hostel should be counselled properly about Health and Hygiene. 
• Parental consent must be obtained by the student before Joining In the Hostel. 
• The Head of the Institute must be in touch with the local Health Institute to ensure periodic health check of the inmates 
• The Guidelines issued by the Health & Family Welfare department and SRC-cum-ACS (DM) must be followed scrupulously 
• The residents must not be allowed to congregate at a given place inside the Hostel and the Hostel Authorities must be vigilant to that effect.
• There should be an Isolation room available inside the Hostel and if some residents fall seeks, he/she should be isolated immediately and proper care should be taken for his/her treatment. 

The S&ME department said that other Departments like ST&SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department & Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities department may issue additional Guidelines / SOP, if so desire.

“However, the Guideline issued by Health & Family Welfare department and SRC Odisha from time to time on Covid-19 will be followed strictly in the process of reopening of hostels,” the notification added.