Higher education institutions to remain open on March 5: Odisha Govt

All HEIs (higher education institutions) coming under the Higher Education Department shall remain open on March 5 (Wednesday), a notification issued by the Department on Tuesday in this regard mentioned.

With this notification, the holiday previously declared on March 5 stands cancelled.

Also Read: All schools in Odisha to remain open on March 5

According to official sources, the circular was issued to Registrars and PG Council Chairmen of the public universities, Principals of government and non-government degree colleges, and Principals of government teacher education institutions in Odisha, coming under the Department, for their information and necessary action.

This is why the holiday was cancelled

Worth mentioning, a day after Odisha government delinked Biju Patnaik birth anniversary from Panchayati Raj Divas and declared that March 5 will not be observed as a holiday in the State, the School and Mass Education (S&ME) department has issued a notification directing all schools to remain open on Wednesday.

Accordingly, government and government-aided schools will remain open on March 5.

Earlier on Monday, Odisha government announced a shift in the date for the observance of Panchayati Raj Divas to align with the national observance on April 24, a communiqué from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) stated.

Previously commemorated on March 5 in Odisha every year, the change aims to resolve any dissonance between the state-wide and national celebrations.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi confirmed that March 5 will be solely marked as the birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik, an esteemed statesman of Odisha.

Must Read: Odisha changes Panchayati Raj Day observance date

Unlike earlier, this date will not be observed as a public holiday. Panchayati Raj Divas will now be observed on April 24, in harmony with the national calendar, read the press release from the CMO.

The unified April 24 observance aligns with the constitutional recognition that empowered Panchayati Raj institutions.