Over 1,500 Government schools in Odisha still run without electricity, reveals minister

Odisha School and Mass Education Minister, Nityananda Gond, revealed in the State Assembly that more than 1,500 government schools across the state are operating without electricity, raising concerns over the learning environment for thousands of children. 

The Minister shared these details while responding to questions on school infrastructure on Thursday in Bhubaneswar, explaining that the gaps persist due to a lack of connectivity and pending departmental coordination.

1,500+ Schools Lack Electricity

Odisha continues to face infrastructure challenges in its education sector, with 1,289 primary schools and 290 upper-primary schools yet to receive electricity connections.

Despite significant progress in recent years, these figures paint a worrying picture of the basic facilities available to young learners.

Odisha currently has a total of 48,522 government schools, indicating that a notable section of institutions is still outside the reach of essential services.

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114 Schools Still Without Toilets

The Minister also stated that 114 schools do not have functional toilets. This issue not only affects sanitation but also impacts student attendance, especially for girls, highlighting an urgent need for intervention.

The latest data underlines a pressing need for accelerated action to bridge the infrastructure gap in Odisha’s government schools. Ensuring that electricity and sanitation are not just administrative targets, but are essential for providing children a safe, conducive, and modern learning environment.